The consequences of the NATO-led intervention in the first Libyan civil war for the geopolitical interests of Italy

The thesis examines the 2011 NATO-led intervention in the First Libyan Civil War, through the lens of Italy and its historical relationship with Libya, specifically looking at the geopolitical interests of the two countries and the communion in their partnership. While the intervention was officially summoned as a humanitarian operation under the United Nations’s Security Council Resolution 1973, it will be exposed how the participant members were rather pursuing their own geopolitical agenda, due to previous disagreements with the Gaddafi regimes, aspirations of regional dominance, and the need to contain Italy’s influence in Africa. Will be presented the historical rollercoaster between Libya and Italy, featuring the motivations and aspirations of the concurrent countries that aimed for control of the Libyan state and resources. After a description of the historical and geopolitical developments, there will be an analysis of the interpretation of the UN resolution, its abuses, critics, and supporters, exposing the cynical treatment that was in fact reserved to Libya.