The Roman Empire, spanning the continents of Europe, Asia, and Africa, commanded immense power, establishing itself as the dominant force of its time. The Kingdom of Italy, claiming to inherit the legacy of the Roman Empire, perpetually sought to revive the glories of ancient Rome.
Despite the multitude of powerful nations in Europe, Italy faced formidable challenges in its ascent. Nevertheless, the King and government were resolutely striving for this ambition. To expand their influence and transform the Mediterranean into their own dominion, Italy set its sights on the waning Ottoman Empire.
Once a formidable power, the Ottoman Empire had diminished significantly, losing considerable territory. While North Africa nominally remained under Ottoman control, it had become a target for various nations, many areas having already fallen to colonial ambitions. Italy aimed to seize the Ottoman territories of Tripolitania and Cyrenaica (now part of Libya) as a foothold for expansion in North Africa.
Tripolitania and Cyrenaica, although economically limited, held strategic importance, controlling the narrow central waters of the Mediterranean opposite Sicily. In the 1881 partition of Ottoman territories in North Africa, Algeria and Tunisia had already become French protectorates, effectively transferring Ottoman lands to Western colonizers. France intended to use this as a pretext to annex Tripolitania and Cyrenaica, a move met with opposition from various European nations, especially Italy, which harbored aspirations for colonial territories in North Africa. In response, Italy actively engaged in political diplomacy, forming alliances with major powers and securing recognition of its interests in North Africa.
To prepare for the annexation of Tripolitania and Cyrenaica, Italy encouraged migration and commerce to these regions from 1880 to 1911, acquiring land and bolstering its presence. They even dispatched naval officers disguised as fishermen to survey the coast under the pretext of sponge fishing and instructed Italian Catholic priests to gather intelligence under the guise of missionary work. Learning from their 1896 defeat in Ethiopia, Italy was keenly waiting for the right moment.
"Your Majesty, the outbreak of the Moroccan crisis presents us with a golden opportunity. If we miss this chance, we may not find such a favorable situation again. Therefore, we cannot let this opportunity slip away," Giovanni Giolitti asserted.
"Indeed, I completely concur. However, before engaging the Ottoman Empire, it would be prudent to secure support from other nations!" King Vittorio Emanuele III responded.
Giovanni Giolitti nodded, "The English and French should pose no objections. Our lack of support for Germany should lead them to tacitly accept our actions. Although the Germans may harbor grievances, I doubt they will foolishly force us into an alliance with the Entente."
"That is reasonable. Nonetheless, let us send a special envoy to Germany to seek their support!" King Vittorio Emanuele III suggested.
"Certainly, Your Majesty," Giovanni Giolitti agreed.
As Italy prepared to invade Tripolitania and Cyrenaica, it simultaneously sought to garner support from various European nations.
Upon the Italian envoy's arrival in Germany, he was not granted an audience with Wilhelm II, who was still in a fit of anger. Even Chancellor Bernhard von Bülow did not meet with the Italian representative, leading to their considerable dissatisfaction.
During discussions with the Italian envoy, German Foreign Minister von Kiderlen-Waechter candidly expressed the Empire's anger over Italy's perceived betrayal. The Italian envoy tried to explain, but it was clear to everyone that such attempts were merely superficial.
Just as the envoy believed he would fail in his mission, Qin Tian unexpectedly requested a meeting, which surprised the Italian envoy. Given the substantial crisis in relations between Italy and Germany due to the second Moroccan crisis, this meeting held the potential for a significant shift in their interactions.
In his office, Qin Tian greeted the Italian envoy.
"Your Highness, greetings," the envoy said, displaying a humble demeanor.
"Greetings, Envoy. I must express my profound dissatisfaction with Italy's conduct during the Moroccan crisis," Qin Tian remarked.
"Your Highness, there must be some misunderstanding. Italy values its relationship with the German Empire greatly," the envoy quickly replied.
Fortunately, Qin Tian chose not to dwell on the issue further.
"Envoy, is your nation prepared to take action against the Ottoman Empire?" Qin Tian inquired.
The envoy nodded, acknowledging that there was little to conceal regarding Italy's intentions.
"As allies, although Italy's actions have been somewhat lacking, the Empire values its relationship with Italy. We welcome Italy's expansion in North Africa and are willing to support it. Should you require weaponry and war materials, we can provide some assistance," Qin Tian stated.
The Italian envoy was elated, as he had not anticipated such a favorable response from Qin Tian—this was indeed a delightful surprise!
However, the envoy was also acutely aware that there are no free lunches in international relations. The German Empire's support for Italy undoubtedly came with its own set of ambitions.
"Your Highness, what price must Italy pay for this support?"
"Should Italy successfully occupy Tripolitania and Cyrenaica, I hope that Deutsche Energie Company will receive the rights to extract oil there," Qin Tian declared.
"Oil extraction? Is there oil there?" The Italian envoy was unaware of this development.
"Your Highness, I will report this immediately to my government!" the envoy exclaimed, confident that the Italian government would readily accept this condition.