Italian Defense Minister Guido Crosetto stressed that the stability of Libya is essential, indicating his country's readiness to play the role of "facilitator and coordinator" in the reunification of the Libyan Armed Forces.

The comments came in his briefing before the Joint Foreign and Defense Committees in the Italian Chamber of Deputies and Senate on Thursday.

He added, “We have achieved very little so far compared to the efforts made” in Libya, referring to the various missions that Italy will participate in in Libya during 2023.

Among these missions is a “reformulated” Bilateral Assistance and Support Mission, the Safe Mediterranean Mission against illicit trafficking, and Operation Irini, whose operational command will continue to be hosted in Rome, to provide assistance in border management. 

Crosetto's statements are similar to others made by the Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani, who last March said that Rome was working to make Libya a stable country.

Tajani added, "We talk with everyone in Libya, we went to Tripoli with the Prime Minister, and provided patrol boats to the Libyan Coast Guard."

On January 28, Italian Prime Minister Georgia Meloni visited Tripoli, where she held talks with the head of the interim Government of National Unity, Abdulhamid Dabaiba.