On 30 July, Italy’s Prime Minister, Giuseppe Conte, told reporters following a White House meeting with US President Donald Trump that he would be organizing an international conference to look for ways to stabilise Libya. Italy has said that it has wanted to hold an international conference in Rome with its allies this autumn. The conference would address economic and social issues, the protection of civil rights and reforms needed to overcome the constitutional gridlock for elections to occur.
In a push for Italy to be the main intermediary between Libya’s competing groups, it is seeking the support of the US. Conte stated that for Trump, Italy would be a “reference point in Europe and the main interlocutor for the main issues that need to be faced … with particular reference to Libya.”