Hostname: page-component-745bb68f8f-l4dxg Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2025-02-02T06:04:27.975Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

The Italo-Libyan Relationship between 1969 and 1976

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  24 April 2014

Mattia Toaldo
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

Based on the papers of former Italian statesman Aldo Moro and on several secondary sources, this article investigates the Italo-Libyan relationship between the rise to power of Qadhafi in 1969 and the mid-1970s. Qadhafi initially pursued a policy of confrontation with the former colonial power: he expelled the remaining Italian citizens in Libya, asked for post-colonial compensations and a revision of the 1956 treaty.

Gradually, however, a new relationship developed: Italy badly needed Libyan oil, especially in view of the closing of the Suez Canal because of the Arab-Israeli wars, while Qadhafi needed to secure a fixed amount of oil revenues in order to build up domestic and international support for his revolution. Italian companies were also granted public works which were meant to improve Libyan infrastructure while Libyan oil profits could be invested in Italian stocks. Finally, Italy would provide Qadhafi with weapons and support for his regime, as the revelations about the ‘Hilton Assignment’ demonstrate. The author argues that this relationship gave both actors a wide freedom of manoeuvre within the context of the Cold War.

Type
Articles
Information
Libyan Studies , Volume 44 , 2013 , pp. 85 - 94
Copyright
Copyright © Society for Libyan Studies 2013

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Brundu, P.O. 2004. Pietro Nenni, Aldo Moro e il riconoscimento della Cina comunista. Carte e la storia 10.2: 29–51.Google Scholar
Calandri, E. 2003. Il Mediterraneo nella politica estera italiana. In Giovagnoli, A. and Pons, S. (eds), Tra Guerra Fredda e distensione. Rubbettino, Soveria Mannelli: 351–81.Google Scholar
Cremasco, M. 1988. Italy: A New Role in the Mediterranean? In Chipman, J. (ed.), Nato's Southern Allies: internal and external challenges. Routledge, London: 229–33.Google Scholar
Cricco, M. and Cresti, F. 2011. Gheddafi. Carocci, Rome.Google Scholar
Cricco, M. 2012. L'Islam in Libia. In Mezran, K. and Varvelli, A. (eds), Libia. Fine o rinascita di una nazione? Donzelli, Rome: 39–60.Google Scholar
Del Boca, A. 1998. Gheddafi, una sfida dal deserto. Laterza, Bari.Google Scholar
First, R. 1974. Libya. The Elusive Revolution. Penguin, Middlesex.Google Scholar
Ianari, V. 2003. L'Italia e il Medio Oriente: dal neoatlantismo al peace-keeping. In Giovagnoli, A. and Pons, S. (eds), Tra Guerra Fredda e distensione. Rubbettino, Soveria Mannelli: 383–95.Google Scholar
Mammarella, G. and Cacace, R 2006. La politica estera dell'Italia. Laterza, Bari.Google Scholar
Panebianco, A. 1997. Guerrieri democratici. Il Mulino, Bologna.Google Scholar
Pajak, R.F. 1981. Arms and Oil: The Soviet-Libyan Arms Supply Relationship. Middle Fast Review (winter 1980–1981) 52: 51–56.Google Scholar
Saiu, L. 2006. La politica estera italiana dall'Unità a oggi. Laterza, Bari.Google Scholar
Santoro, C.M. 1991. La politica estera di una media potenza. Il Mulino, Bologna.Google Scholar
Seal, R and McConville, M. 1973. The Hilton Assignment. Maurice Tempie Smith Ltd, London.Google Scholar
Spadaro, B. 2013. Una colonia Italiana. Incontri, memorie e rappresentazioni tra Italia e Libia. Le Monnier, Milano.Google Scholar
Toaldo, M. 2012. Dalla Monarchia alla Jamahiryia. In Mezran, K. and Varvelli, A. (eds), Libia. Fine o rinascitadi una nazione? Donzelli, Rome: 21–38.Google Scholar
Vandewalle, D. 2006. A History of Modern Libya. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Varsori, A. 1998. L'Italia nelle relazioni internazionali. Laterza, Bari.Google Scholar
Varvelli, A. 2009. L'Italia e l'ascesa di Gheddafi, Baldini Castoldi Dalai, Milano.Google Scholar
Varvelli, A. 2010. Italy and Libya: Renewing a Special Relationship. International Spectator 45.3: 117–30.Google Scholar
Westad, O.A. 2005. The global cold war: third world interventions and the making of our times, Cambridge University Press, Cambridge.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Wright, J. 1969. Libya. Benn, London.Google Scholar