Meloni unveils ‘naval blockade’ plan to shut Italy’s waters to migrant boats

Italian PM Giorgia Meloni has announced a tough new “naval blockade” plan as part of sweeping measures against what she calls “mass illegal immigration” and the human traffickers behind it. In a video address, her first big message since violent unrest and tensions over security and the Paris Olympics put Italy’s stability in the spotlight, Meloni warned that in cases of terrorism risk, national security threats or “exceptional migratory pressure,” Italy will move to shut its territorial waters to suspect vessels and divert them to third countries.