Russian President Vladimir Putin’s new ambassador to Libya is set to take up his post in the capital, extending Russian influence across an oil-producing nation on the doorstep of Europe.
This development transpires as the U.S. deliberates the reopening of its embassy in Libya.
Russia’s Wagner Group currently holds control over crucial oil facilities in Libya and lent its support to a prolonged blockade last year. This blockade considerably impacted exports during the energy crisis that stemmed from the Ukraine invasion.
The decision by Moscow to reestablish its diplomatic presence in Tripoli, the western base of the UN-supported government, strongly suggests Putin’s intention to expand Russian influence beyond their traditional support for eastern military commander Khalifa Haftar.
These movements have aroused concerns within the U.S., prompting them to send several high-ranking officials to counterbalance Putin’s strides in an OPEC member nation that European governments view as a potential alternative to Russian energy.
Among these officials was CIA Director William Burns, who visited Libya in January. Burns held discussions with both eastern and Western rival governments and subsequently met with officials in Egypt, which is another supporter of Haftar.
The U.S. is primarily focused on expelling an estimated 2,000 Wagner mercenaries who backed Haftar’s unsuccessful 2019-2020 campaign to seize Tripoli and have since been instrumental in solidifying his control over oil supplies. Libya possesses 40% of Africa’s oil reserves.
“The status quo is inherently unstable,” cautioned Richard Norland, the U.S. Special Envoy to Libya, during a phone interview. He warned of clandestine attempts to exploit internal divisions and obstruct UN-led efforts to conduct elections. “Our message is you’re only going to get legitimacy through elections,” he emphasized.
However, the U.S. finds itself at a disadvantage in Libya, with no troops on the ground and no diplomatic presence.
While U.S. officials maintain they are striving to reestablish their embassy, the decision holds significant political implications for President Joe Biden, who served as vice president during the NATO-backed revolt that deposed longtime dictator Muammar Qaddafi in 2011, and the subsequent turmoil that engulfed Libya.
“The status quo is inherently unstable,” US Special Envoy to Libya, Richard Norland, said in a phone interview, warning of unspecified efforts to exploit internal divisions and thwart UN efforts to hold elections. “Our message is you’re only going to get legitimacy through elections.”
But the US has no troops and no diplomatic presence in Libya. Although the US officials claim that they are planning to reestablish their own embassy, the decision remains politically fraught for Joe Biden, who was vice president during the NATO-backed rebellion that ousted longtime dictator Muammar Qaddafi in 2011 — and Libya’s subsequent descent into chaos.
