Crosetto’s Middle East masterclass in misdirection

Guido Crosetto, Italy’s Defense Minister, seems to have developed a habit of diplomatic tightrope walking. His latest act, performed during an interview with Emirati newspaper “The National,” has left diplomats and armchair analysts alike scratching their heads. Crosetto, while inaugurating Villaggio Italia in Abu Dhabi, unleashed a surreal monologue on world affairs with Israel as his preferred dartboard.

In the spirit of generosity, let’s assume the Minister meant well. But, reading his comments, you’d be forgiven for wondering if the ghost of Yayah Sinwar had taken up…ghostwriting.

Crosetto’s first brilliant suggestion? An exchange of prisoners – apparently oblivious to the fact that hostages are not bargaining chips. Imagine Churchill in 1940 suggesting a “prisoner swap” with the Luftwaffe instead of the Blitz spirit. The Italians have given us Renaissance art and fine tailoring, but hostage negotiation strategies may not be their forte.

Then there’s Crosetto’s odd praise for Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), describing them as exhibiting “great humanity.” One presumes he has not spent much time reviewing their CV, which reads less like a humanitarian’s diary and more like a jihadi LinkedIn profile. Crosetto dreams of a “multicultural Syria,” which is a charming thought, but one that disregards the complex ethnic and religious mosaic of the region. Syria isn’t a post-Brexit Britain longing for diversity; it’s a cauldron of competing sects and factions, with the memory of civil war still fresh. The Druze of the Golan Heights, for their part, seem to have grasped the situation better, expressing interest in living under Israeli sovereignty – a rather more practical approach, given the alternatives.

But it is Lebanon where Crosetto truly lets his anti-Zionist slip show. The theory of the Defense Minister of the Italian Republic? Israel is the aggressor, and “only a robust UNIFIL force alongside the Lebanese Armed Forces can prevent further Israeli incursions.” Presumably, this is the same UNIFIL that has been as effective in restraining Hezbollah as a paper umbrella in a monsoon. Resolution 1701, which Hezbollah violates with cheerful abandon, calls for their disarmament. UNIFIL, meanwhile, has been reduced to the role of conflict-zone spectator, occasionally issuing sternly worded tweets. Crosetto’s solution? More of the same. Double down on what’s already failed. If that doesn’t scream “innovative diplomacy,” I don’t know what does.

At least Crosetto acknowledges the need to “shut down the Houthis.” Though by the time he finishes talking about it, Netanyahu’s likely to have finished doing it. Israel tends to prefer walking the walk, while Crosetto remains fond of talking the talk – just, regrettably, a day late and a penny short.

The Defense Minister’s remarks showcase the kind of muddled thinking that has plagued Western foreign policy circles for years – plenty of sentiment, short on strategy. If he really fancies himself a Middle East expert, Crosetto might consider less lecturing and more listening. Preferably to someone who’s spent more time in the region than browsing through Lonely Planet guides.