Italy's Economic Diplomacy Towards Libya

Following the October 2020 ceasefire, the success of the Libyan Political Dialogue Forum (LPDF) brokered by the United Nations and the swearing-in of Abdul Hamid Dbaiba’s interim Government of National Unity (GNU) in March 2021, diplomacy in Libya seems to be finally regaining some momentum. This new phase has also been characterised by greater European and Italian involvement.

On 4 April, European Council President Charles Michel flew to Tripoli and two days later, on 6 April, Italy’s Prime Minister Mario Draghi also visited the Libyan capital in what was the first visit by an EU leader to Libya. For Draghi, this was his first international trip since becoming Prime Minister in February 2021.