The Italian government is alarmed by the increasing number of people fleeing by sea. And has a culprit ready that is causing a stir in more than one region of the world: the infamous Wagner battle group is said to be responsible for the strong migration flows from North African countries.
Italy warns that if the number of migrants continues to increase, the migration phenomenon could spiral out of control. “It is no longer about whether we should take in migrants or not. We are dealing with a phenomenon that could take on uncontrollable proportions within a few months,’ European Minister Raffaele Fitto warned Monday, according to the media.
Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani also stressed that he was “concerned” that many migrants came from North African areas where the Russian mercenary group Wagner had a strong influence. “The immigration issue cannot be an Italian issue alone,” he said at the end of his meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Jerusalem.
Indirect attack by Russia
Italian Defense Minister Guido Crosetto also sees an indirect attack by Russia on Italy because of its decision to send more weapons to Ukraine. The increase in migrant migration from Africa is at least partly due to the strategy of the Wagner group in a number of African countries.
“In my opinion it is now safe to say that the exponential increase in the phenomenon of migration from the African coasts is also, to a not inconsiderable degree, part of a clear strategy of war being carried out by the Russian Wagner division, using its significant weight in some African countries,” Crosetto said.
The government came under great pressure
The drastic comments are probably no coincidence: the Italian government came under pressure on Monday after another boating accident off the Libyan coast with at least 30 missing and another refugee drama just off the coast of Calabria. Critics now see confirmation that the government did not intervene in time to save the people.
About 700,000 are waiting to leave
In Rome on Monday, the government discussed a strategy to better coordinate maritime surveillance to detect migrant boats in waters beyond its maritime borders. The matter was discussed at a meeting attended by Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, Defense Minister Crosetto and intelligence chiefs. The secret services warned the government last weekend that nearly 700,000 migrants in Libya were ready to leave for Italy.
According to government circles, maritime surveillance will be strengthened with the help of the navy, which has the right technical resources.
Source: Krone
I am Wallace Jones, an experienced journalist. I specialize in writing for the world section of Today Times Live. With over a decade of experience, I have developed an eye for detail when it comes to reporting on local and global stories. My passion lies in uncovering the truth through my investigative skills and creating thought-provoking content that resonates with readers worldwide.
