italy was the european state that seized libya from the ottoman empire in 1911.
italy was the european state that seized libya from the ottoman empire in 1911.
which european state seized libya from the ottoman empire in 1911?
italy
italy's government remained committed into 1911 to the maintenance of the ottoman empire, which was a close friend of their german ally. prime minister giovanni giolitti rejected nationalist calls for conflict over ottoman albania, which was seen as a possible colonial project, as late as the summer of 1911. however, the agadir crisis, in which french military action in morocco in april 1911 would lead to the establishment of a french protectorate, changed the political calculations. at this point, the italian leadership decided that it could safely accede to public demands for a colonial project. the triple entente powers were highly supportive. british foreign secretary edward grey stated to the italian ambassador on 28 july that they would support italy and would not support the turks; on 19 september, grey instructed permanent under-secretary of state sir arthur nicolson, 1st baron carnock that england and france should not interfere with italy's designs on libya. meanwhile, the russian government urged italy to act in a "prompt and resolute manner." in contrast to their engagement with the entente powers, italy largely ignored its military allies in the triple alliance. giolitti and foreign minister antonino paternò castello agreed on 14 september to launch a military campaign "before the austrian and german governments [were aware] of it." at the time, germany was actively attempting to mediate between rome and constantinople, while austrian foreign minister alois lexa von aehrenthal repeatedly warned italy that military action in libya would threaten the integrity of the ottoman empire and create a crisis in the eastern question, thereby destabilizing the balkan peninsula and the continent's balance of power. italy also foresaw this result: paternò castello, in a july report to the king and giolitti, laid out the pros and cons of a military action in libya and raised the concern that the balkan revolt that would likely follow an italian attack against libya might force austria to take military action in balkan areas claimed by italy.
italo-turkish war
the british also established effective control of the persian gulf, and the french extended their influence into lebanon and syria. in 1912, the italians seized libya and the dodecanese islands, just off the coast of the ottoman heartland of anatolia. the ottomans turned to germany to protect them from the western powers, but the result was increasing financial and military dependence on germany.









































section::::early modern near east.:the ottoman empire (1299–1918).:ottoman reform efforts.
history of the middle east