Populist Italian Deputy Prime Minister Matteo Salvini blasted EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Federica Mogherini following a threat to shut down the Italy-led Operation Sophia in the Mediterranean.
Salvini’s comments come after Germany’s Angela Merkel decided on Wednesday to look at opting out of the mission, which is led by the Italians and conducts search-and-rescue operations in the Mediterranean Sea.
Mogherini cast doubt on the Italian leadership of the operation, saying: “If today Italy, which has the command and the headquarters of the operation, no longer wants Sophia, we are ready to shut it down,” Il Giornale reports.
The statement provoked an immediate reaction from Salvini who attacked the fact Mogherini had been appointed by the previous left-wing government under Matteo Renzi and added: “The left has managed to be represented by someone who, a quarter of an hour later, forgot how to be Italian.”
EU's Naval Operation Ferries Migrants to Europe, Helps Smugglers https://t.co/2lJuFrSb8C pic.twitter.com/0GYI4ey67y
— Breitbart London (@BreitbartLondon) May 14, 2016
According to German outlet Deutsche Welle, Chancellor Merkel’s move to pull out of participating in Operation Sophia was centred around the Italian government refusing to allow migrants to disembark in Italy, a policy which has seen illegal sea-based migration decrease by around 80 percent under Salvini and the populist coalition.
Operation Sophia, which was formed in 2015, has been criticised by many over several years, including the Libyan government — who argued in 2017 that it encourages migrants to attempt the journey to Europe.
Libyan Foreign Minister Mohamad Taher Siala said of the operation: “I think this Sophia… it’s negative. It’s not positive. Simply because in part they encourage the migration.”
His comments came only months after a report by Britain’s House of Lords stated: “The mission does not… in any meaningful way deter the flow of migrants, disrupt the smugglers’ networks, or impede the business of people smuggling on the central Mediterranean route.”
Salvini Refuses to Reopen Italy's Ports: Stopping Migrant Boats Saving Lives https://t.co/T7FAAFsvgy
— Breitbart London (@BreitbartLondon) January 23, 2019
Follow Chris Tomlinson on Twitter at @TomlinsonCJ or email at ctomlinson(at)breitbart.com
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