Italy is attempting to maintain positive relations with Egypt following the conviction of three Egyptian security officials in absentia for the 2016 kidnapping of Italian student Giulio Regeni. Despite the guilty verdict, Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani clarified that Egypt as a country was not convicted, but rather three individuals associated with its security forces. This distinction appears to be a deliberate effort to prevent a diplomatic crisis between Rome and Egypt. The statement underscores Italy's desire to separate the actions of those found responsible for Regeni’s abduction and subsequent death from the overall bilateral relationship with Egypt. The case has been a sensitive topic for years, drawing significant public attention in Italy and straining ties with Egypt. The Italian government now aims to navigate a path that acknowledges the guilty verdict while preserving crucial diplomatic and strategic interests in Egypt.