Meloni’s Tunisia visit draws scrutiny amid shifting regional alliances

Tunisian political activist and former member of parliament, Majdi Karbai, has raised serious concerns over the motives behind Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni’s recent visit to Tunisia, suggesting that the trip was driven by efforts to reconcile growing American pressure with broader European interests.

The visit, announced at the last minute, has drawn considerable attention in both Tunisian and Italian political circles. According to Karbai, the timing and manner of the visit have triggered unease among Italian political figures and media commentators, who view it as more than a routine diplomatic engagement.

The context surrounding the visit adds to its significance. Just days earlier, Massad Boulos — a Lebanese-American businessman closely associated with former US President Donald Trump — had travelled to Tunisia and reportedly conveyed strong concerns about what he described as Tunisia’s increasing proximity to Iran. Karbai suggested that this development has sparked alarm in Washington and may have prompted European actors, particularly Italy, to re-engage more assertively with Tunis.

Meloni’s trip, therefore, appears to have been carefully calibrated to address these shifting dynamics. On the one hand, it serves to reassure American allies of Italy’s role as a mediator and regional stabiliser. On the other, it reinforces Rome’s direct interests in North Africa, particularly on the issue of migration — a key domestic concern for the Italian government.

Tunisia remains a major transit point for irregular migrants attempting to reach European shores. Karbai believes the visit may have involved proposals for enhanced cooperation on migration control in exchange for economic or political support to President Kais Saied’s administration. Such a deal, he argues, would fit within a pattern of short-term transactional diplomacy aimed at delivering immediate policy wins for both sides.

Beyond the immediate implications, the visit may also signal a deeper strategic shift. Italy, under Meloni’s leadership, appears intent on redefining its role in the southern Mediterranean, asserting itself more confidently amid an evolving regional landscape shaped by new alignments and great power competition.

Karbai noted that Meloni’s close ties with the American right — particularly figures associated with the Trump camp — may be influencing her foreign policy choices, as she seeks to position Italy as a key player between Washington and the Maghreb. Tunisia, caught in the middle of these intersecting agendas, finds itself increasingly central to wider geopolitical negotiations.

The visit, in Karbai’s view, should not be seen merely as a bilateral event, but rather as a reflection of the shifting balance of power across the Mediterranean. With migration, energy, and security concerns now tightly interwoven with global rivalries, Tunisia is emerging as a focal point in a rapidly changing regional equation.