Algerian President, Italian PM Discuss Energy, ‘Partnership with Africa’

A picture of the Algerian and Italian presidents in May. (Algerian presidency)
A picture of the Algerian and Italian presidents in May. (Algerian presidency)
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Algerian President, Italian PM Discuss Energy, ‘Partnership with Africa’

A picture of the Algerian and Italian presidents in May. (Algerian presidency)
A picture of the Algerian and Italian presidents in May. (Algerian presidency)

Italy’s Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni is set to hold meetings on Sunday and Monday in Algeria with senior officials to discuss energy and illegal immigration.

Rome wants Algeria to play the “gendarme” role in combating the hundreds of illegal migrants arriving at the Italian shores annually.

The Italian PM talks in Algeria would focus on energy, the electrical industry, SMEs, emerging companies, and education.

Algerian political sources told Asharq Al-Awsat that the top issues on the agenda are illegal immigration and the growing Italian need for Algerian gas to substitute Russian gas.

Algeria became the main gas supplier to Italy after the war erupted in Ukraine.

Meloni would meet Algerian Prime Minister Ayman bin Abdel Rahma and Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune.

Local media sources reported that the visit will also witness the signing of several agreements that include SMEs. Further consultations would be made considering the launch of cars' manufacturing in Algeria – a sector that is suffering from severe shortages.

Algeria stopped the import of cars four years ago, which caused an accumulation in local demand and a record hike in used cars' prices.

In another context, Italian Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Antonio Tajani and Interior Minister Matteo Piantedosi visited Tunisia on Wednesday to discuss cooperation in combating human trafficking.

Observers expect Algeria to be a key partner to Italy as part of a plan announced by Meloni in October to strengthen ties with Africa.

Meloni accused the French of unfairly exploiting Africa’s natural resources and raw materials, which spurred the migration of Africans to Europe.

“The solution is not to transfer Africans to Europe but to liberate Africa from some Europeans,” according to Meloni.

In a harsh statement addressing French President Emmanuel Macron, she said: “don’t come to teach us lessons, Macron, the Africans are abandoning their country because of you.”



Israeli Strikes Kill 12 in Lebanon, including 5 Hezbollah Fighters

Women walk near destroyed buildings, with one holding the flag of Hezbollah, in the southern Lebanese village of Kfar Kila, after an Israeli military spokesperson said that Israel would keep troops in several posts in southern Lebanon past the deadline for them to withdraw, February 18, 2025 - Reuters reported.
Women walk near destroyed buildings, with one holding the flag of Hezbollah, in the southern Lebanese village of Kfar Kila, after an Israeli military spokesperson said that Israel would keep troops in several posts in southern Lebanon past the deadline for them to withdraw, February 18, 2025 - Reuters reported.
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Israeli Strikes Kill 12 in Lebanon, including 5 Hezbollah Fighters

Women walk near destroyed buildings, with one holding the flag of Hezbollah, in the southern Lebanese village of Kfar Kila, after an Israeli military spokesperson said that Israel would keep troops in several posts in southern Lebanon past the deadline for them to withdraw, February 18, 2025 - Reuters reported.
Women walk near destroyed buildings, with one holding the flag of Hezbollah, in the southern Lebanese village of Kfar Kila, after an Israeli military spokesperson said that Israel would keep troops in several posts in southern Lebanon past the deadline for them to withdraw, February 18, 2025 - Reuters reported.

Heavy Israeli airstrikes killed 12 people, including five Hezbollah fighters, in eastern Lebanon on Tuesday, a security source in Lebanon said, in what Israel said was a warning to the Iran-backed group against trying to re-establish itself.

The Israeli military said the airstrikes targeted training camps used by elite Hezbollah fighters and warehouses it used to store weapons in the Bekaa Valley region of eastern Lebanon.

The airstrikes were the deadliest on the area since a US-brokered ceasefire between Lebanon and Israel last November. Bachir Khodr, governor of the Bekaa region, said seven of the dead were Syrian nationals.

Israel dealt Hezbollah heavy blows in last year's conflict, killing its leader Hassan Nasrallah along with other commanders and destroying much of its arsenal.

Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz said Tuesday's strikes sent a "clear message" to Hezbollah, accusing it of planning to rebuild the capability to raid Israel through the elite Radwan force, Reuters reported.

Israel "will respond with maximum force to any attempt at rebuilding", he said. He added that strikes were also a message to the Lebanese government, saying it was responsible for upholding the ceasefire agreement.

There was no immediate public response from Hezbollah or from the Lebanese government to the latest Israeli strikes.

The United States has submitted a proposal to the Lebanese government aimed at securing Hezbollah's disarmament within four months in exchange for Israel halting airstrikes and withdrawing troops from positions they still hold in south Lebanon.

Under the terms of the ceasefire brokered by the US and France, Lebanon's armed forces were to confiscate "all unauthorized arms", beginning in the area south of the Litani River - the zone closest to Israel.