Silvio Berlusconi on Muammar Gaddafi

Silvio Berlusconi's position toward Muammar Gaddafi was characterized by a close, mutually self-serving political and economic relationship, particularly during his premierships. The core of this stance involved significant diplomatic engagement aimed at securing Italian energy interests and managing migration flows from Libya. A landmark moment was the 2008 Friendship and Cooperation Treaty, which included an apology from Italy for its colonial past and financial compensation, cementing a period of warm ties that was considered highly beneficial by Berlusconi for Italy's national interests.

This close alignment drew criticism from political opponents who disliked the cozy relationship with the Libyan leader, especially concerning human rights issues in Libya. Despite the controversy surrounding the warmth he showed, which included physical gestures like kissing Gaddafi's hand in 2009, Berlusconi vehemently opposed NATO's 2011 military intervention in Libya. He later declared his strong opposition to the intervention, framing it as a betrayal of their prior agreements and highlighting a divergence from the stance of some Western allies.