The US administration is worried about the growing influence of Russia in Libya, writes Bloomberg.
In particular, last December, President Vladimir Putin appointed Aidar Aganin as Ambassador to Libya. In February, the diplomat specified that the Russian embassy would be based directly in Tripoli, but did not say when exactly it would begin full-fledged work. Tripoli is home to the UN-recognized government of national unity. This is a “clear sign” that the Russian authorities “hope to go beyond their traditional support for military leader Khalifa Haftar in the east,” writes Bloomberg.
According to the agency, this state of affairs caused concern in the United States. The US administration sent “many high-ranking officials” to Libya, including CIA chief William Burns. He visited Libya in January and held talks with both governments, as well as meeting with officials in Egypt, who also supported Haftar.
In addition, Washington expects to “push out” Wagner PMC mercenaries from Libya, where 40% of oil reserves in Africa are located, but is currently “at a disadvantage” because the United States has neither troops nor a diplomatic presence in Libya, Bloomberg writes. The US Embassy in Libya was closed in 2014 amid a deteriorating situation in the country. In September 2012, the US Consulate in Benghazi was attacked by Islamists. As a result, four Americans were killed, including Ambassador Christopher Stevens.
Source: Rosbalt
Mario Twitchell is an accomplished author and journalist, known for his insightful and thought-provoking writing on a wide range of topics including general and opinion. He currently works as a writer at 247 news agency, where he has established himself as a respected voice in the industry.
