According to Guido Crosetto, “uncontrolled and continuous immigration (…) becomes a means of hitting the most exposed countries, first and foremost Italy, and their geostrategic choices”. Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani also expressed his concerns on Monday, on the sidelines of a trip to Israel, “because many migrants arrive of areas controlled by the Wagner group”.
More than 20,000 migrants have landed in Italy since the start of the year, compared to around 6,000 over the same period in 2022 and 2021, according to the Interior Ministry. Most arrive from the North African coast in overloaded boats at the risk of their lives. A continent where the men of the Wagner group are active, particularly in the Central African Republic and Mali.