Italy's announcement that it would donate a dozen additional rescue ships for use by Libyan maritime officials -- more than doubling the size of the Libyan coast guard fleet -- shows Italian new government is stepping up the strategy of keeping would-be refugees on the African side of the Mediterranean, analysts said.

The strategy has worked before: after reaching peak numbers in 2015 and 2016, the arrival rate of asylum seekers in Italy dropped precipitously starting in mid-2017, when Italy and other European states began supplying, financing, and training the Libyan Coast Guard in an effort to prevent many would-be refugees from setting out to sea.

Despite the reduced number of arrivals, the newest developments come as Italy is earning worldwide attention for a hardline stance on migrants since its new government was installed on June 1.

The country has turned away non-governmental rescue vessels from other countries and has pushed for the European Union as a whole to help underwrite the costs of migration while adopting a stricter anti-migrant policy.

One problem with policies aimed at keeping more asylum seekers on African shores is that there are few efforts aimed at improving conditions in the home countries of potential refugees. Thousands still make the arduous and often deadly trip to Libya, while camps in that country are already overcrowded and under-funded.

So far this year, at least 1,000 people have died trying to make the crossing from Libya to Europe, according to the International Organization for Migration.

"We are aware that what we are doing is not enough and that we must work to stabilize the situation," said Danilo Toninelli, Italy's minister of transport, speaking about the 2.5-million-euro (2.9-million-U.S. dollar) aid package that includes the 12 boats, as well as funds for maintenance and training of Libyan sailors.

"What is happening now is not a comprehensive policy," Luca Angrisani, a director with the National Association of Public and Private Security Experts and a marine intelligence analyst, told Xinhua.

"There's probably some deterrent for potential migrants when everything becomes even more challenging," Angrisani said. "But the problem won't be solved until the situation in the home countries improves. And that is a long-term project that will not be easy or inexpensive to solve."

According to Arrianna Montanari, a professor of the sociology of political phenomena with Rome's La Sapienza University, there are other problems with Italy continuing its strategy of trying to prevent would-be migrants from starting the perilous journey across the Mediterranean.

"First of all, I doubt 12 more ships are going to make a big difference," Montanari said in an interview. "But even if it did, it will only further isolate Italy. The country has to remember that it needs some migrants. Migrants do jobs in Italy that others don't want to do."