Italy Shifts Stance on Western Sahara: Diplomatic Blow to Algeria’s Self-Determination Push

Algiers is facing a new diplomatic setback, but has tried to make people believe the opposite. During his visit to Italy, Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune stated that Algeria and Italy share a "common support" for the "Sahrawi people" and their "right to self-determination". These remarks are far from reflecting the reality. This is evidenced by the joint statement released following the exchanges between Tebboune and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni.

"We have reiterated our common support for the efforts of the Personal Envoy of the United Nations Secretary-General to relaunch the direct negotiations and reach a just, lasting, and mutually acceptable solution, in accordance with the purposes and principles of the United Nations Charter and the relevant resolutions of the Security Council (point 29, editor’s note)," the joint statement said. In reality, point 29 of the joint statement on the Sahara emphasizes "a political and mutually acceptable solution".

By adopting this stance, is Italy moving towards the recognition of Morocco’s sovereignty over the Sahara and support for the Moroccan autonomy plan as the "only serious and credible solution", as Israel, the United States, Spain, Portugal and France have already done? Anything is possible in diplomacy.