Libyan Gas and Italian Finance

https://www.maritime-executive.com/article/italy-and-libya-reach-8b-deal-on-offshore-gas-development

Money is moving all around and when you take a moment and squint through the fog you realize that in the deal, Italy is getting more military cooperation to block migrants – Libya being one of the primary hubs for the refugee trails coming out of Sub-Saharan Africa.

The deal will be rejected by the likes of Turkey and possibly France and as the article states – the Tobruk-based LNA will reject this deal, creating the potential for a renewal of the civil war. Natural resources will be going out and money moving around – along with foreign intervention. It's potentially a formula for trouble but hardly a new scenario.

At some point the US may get involved as this has the potential to reignite Mediterranean tensions – that could spread to the Aegean, Cyprus, and the Levant.

Washington doesn't want a Mediterranean dispute at this time, and one that could pit countries within the NATO alliance against one another – especially in light of events in Ukraine, and the way the United States is attempting to use this war as a means of consolidating its power and hold over European military and foreign policy.

For Libya, given their history under Italian rule during the first half of the 20^th century one wonders if they feel like they're riding a carousel. Gaddafi's rise to power and the very tone of his regime was in many respects a reaction to Italy's legacy and the way in which the United Kingdom and United States manipulated the country after the conclusion of World War II. Many have forgotten the Americans and British ended up with bases there until 1970. It's ironic in some respects that the Tripoli-based government would sign this deal with Italy and maybe it's worth a little reflection. They wouldn't be there but for the NATO regime change operation. So one must ask, just who is calling the shots?

I would imagine the Tobruk regime will attempt to make a little hay off that point. Italian gas entities such as Eni have been operating out of Libya for years but under the auspices of Gaddafi. Yes, even he was compromised and inconsistent. But given the way the country was destroyed in the aftermath of 2011 and the subsequent proxy war that developed, the fact that Libya is once again turning to NATO-member Italy and even allowing it to expand its reach, influence, and yes, exploitation of Libya – has to make one exhale in wonder. It's like Libya is a caught on a carousel and can't get off.

But Europe is hungry for gas and desperate times mean desperate measures. The Tripoli government is looking for support. It's a perfect formula for a nice and tidy neo-colonial arrangement.