Rising Tensions: U.S. and Russia Compete for Influence in Libya
As U.S. and Russian military and diplomatic efforts intensify, Libya risks becoming a battleground for their strategic rivalry.
Watan-Events in Libya are accelerating amid intensive U.S. military and diplomatic efforts aimed at blocking Russia’s growing presence in the country. In recent days, there has been significant U.S. activity led by AFRICOM, alongside similar Russian movements, raising questions about the potential for Libya to become an indirect battleground between the two superpowers.
The U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM) sent a high-level military and security delegation to eastern, western, and central Libya from February 3 to 6. The delegation met with officials from the Government of National Unity in Tripoli, and the Libyan National Army (LNA) leadership in the east, in an attempt to reorganize the security and military situation in the country, with a focus on unifying the military institution. This seems to be an American strategy aimed at countering Russia’s expansion in Libya and Africa.
U.S. and Russia: Competing Interests Shape Libya’s Future
The delegation included AFRICOM Deputy Commander General John Brennan, AFRICOM Intelligence Director General Rose Krafory, and U.S. Chargé d’Affaires in Libya Jeremy Brent. The meetings included discussions with General Khalifa Haftar in Benghazi, Prime Minister Abdul Hamid Dbeibeh in Tripoli, as well as military and security officials from both sides. This indicates a clear U.S. effort to impose its vision for Libya through engagement with all key stakeholders.
These U.S. actions come at a time when Russia is intensifying its military presence in Libya. Reports have indicated that Russian forces have arrived in the eastern part of the country, laying the groundwork for a Russian military base that could be used to launch operations in Africa. Some sources suggest that the Russian “African Legion” has begun to replace Wagner Group forces in Libya, following a redeployment of the latter amid internal conflict within Russian leadership.
U.S. Strategy to Unify Libyan Army Amid Rising Russian Influence
In this context, AFRICOM’s commander emphasized that Washington is working to unify the Libyan army to confront “malicious actors” threatening U.S. interests in the region, indirectly referring to Russia.
The U.S.-Russia competition for control over Libyan territory is not new, but it is entering a more complicated phase. It seems that Washington and Moscow are heading toward an indirect confrontation in Libya, supporting opposing local factions to further their strategic interests. With the continued security and political vacuum in Libya, the country appears on the brink of a new phase of international interventions that could completely reshape the political and military landscape.
Will we soon witness an escalation of U.S. actions against Russia’s presence in Libya? Can Washington impose its vision for unifying the Libyan army, or does Moscow have alternative plans for the country’s future?
