Russia: From Retreat to Resurgence

Photo Credit Inside Arabia

In early February, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov pledged to work with Libya’s new political administration, as Russia quietly transferred 310 new Syrian mercenaries to Libya. This contradiction encapsulated Russia’s broader approach to the Libyan conflict. Russia is currently a leading military backer of the Libyan Arab Armed Forces (LAAF) chieftain Khalifa Haftar, an indispensable player in Libya’s diplomatic process and a potentially vital stakeholder in Libya’s post- conflict reconstruction. Russia’s rising influence in Libya also bolsters its standing in the eastern Mediterranean, the Middle East and Africa, which are critical theatres for its great power status ambitions.

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