The images speak for themselves, especially the facial expressions. During the exchange of statements at the Chigi Palace with Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni could not hide her astonishment, tinged with a sly smile. Indeed, Tebboune had just stated that Algiers and Rome shared concordant positions on the Western Sahara issue. Meloni initially widened her eyes, as if to signal to the audience and the cameras that this statement was a blatant lie. Italy's well-known official position is, in reality, much closer to supporting Morocco's autonomy plan for the Sahara.
Despite this, Tebboune persisted in his use of falsehood, asserting that the two countries supported the efforts of the UN Secretary-General's personal envoy to achieve a just political solution, in accordance with international law, allowing the Sahrawi people to exercise their inalienable right to self-determination.
This last statement was clearly the final straw for Giorgia Meloni. She then shot a disapproving look at her interlocutor, or rather, at the man who had transformed himself into a supposed Polisario foreign minister.
Tebboune's crude maneuvers, contrary to any diplomatic tact, could well be interpreted as a blatant lack of respect for the Italian authorities. Algeria seems to want to force Italy's hand on the Sahara issue.
Indeed, speaking first, Giorgia Meloni, speaking of regional and international issues, had reported bilateral discussions that had focused on the Sahel, Libya, Syria, the situation in Gaza, and the Russo-Ukrainian conflict. At no point was the Sahara mentioned in her joint statement with Tebboune. This implies that Italy either refused to address the issue or categorically rejected any request for open alignment with the Algerian regime's anti-Moroccan positions.
This Italian firmness was clearly reflected in the text of the final communiqué. While Algeria managed to insert a paragraph on the Sahara, Italy ensured that the propagandistic formula of self-determination for the Sahrawi people did not appear. In this dubious diplomatic game orchestrated by the Algerian president, Giorgia Meloni was in a position of strength. She is perfectly aware of Tebboune's weak internal legitimacy and Algeria's international isolation, virtually at odds with most of its neighbors in the Maghreb, the Sahel, and even Europe. It is these two burdens, combined with the inherent corruption of the Algerian regime, that pushed Tebboune to seek a breath of fresh air on the other side of the Mediterranean, far from what resembles his open-air prison.
Italy is certainly dependent on Algerian natural gas, which has replaced that of Russia, its former primary supplier. Algeria may well grant Italy the lowest preferential prices on the international gas market, not to mention the contracts signed between the two countries in the energy and arms sectors.
Although Italy depends on Algerian natural gas, which has replaced Russian supplies, and despite the preferential prices granted by Algiers, not to mention energy and arms agreements, these advantages have not been enough for Algeria. It has not been able to use this supposed strategic cooperation as leverage to try to buy Italy – Europe's third largest industrial power – a position on the Moroccan Sahara, as it would have done with Zimbabwe or Mozambique. Such a humiliating attitude is unacceptable for Italy, because it would undermine the sovereignty of another state, moreover a friend and major economic partner for both Italy and the European Union.
Suffice it to say, Tebboune received a resounding setback. Furthermore, he also distinguished himself during another speech before Italian entrepreneurs, asserting, in defiance of artificial and human intelligence, that Algeria has the largest motorway network in Africa and will soon become a continental leader in railways.
