US warns Haftar as Russia expands military presence in Libya

A senior US Republican lawmaker has cautioned Libyan military leader Khalifa Haftar about Russia’s growing naval and military presence in Libya, raising concerns over Moscow’s expanding influence in North Africa.

Representative Joe Wilson delivered the warning via social media just as Haftar began a diplomatic visit to Belarus, where President Alexander Lukashenko pledged broad support for cooperation with Libya.

During discussions in Minsk, Haftar emphasized establishing strategic partnerships, particularly in Belarus’s industrial and agricultural sectors. Meanwhile, eastern Libya’s foreign minister, Abdul Hadi Al-Huwaij, has been working to organize a Libyan-Russian forum aimed at deepening bilateral relations. The timing of these engagements has drawn scrutiny from US officials, especially in light of the US Libya Stabilisation Act of 2023, which allows for sanctions against foreign entities backing Libyan factions following the expiration of the Government of National Unity’s mandate.

Intelligence assessments indicate that Russia’s military footprint in Libya has expanded significantly, with troop numbers rising from 800 to 1,800 between February and May 2024. Satellite imagery has also revealed Russian forces establishing logistical bases in southern Libya near the Chad and Sudan borders. This increased presence aligns with Moscow’s broader African engagement strategy, which seeks to counter international isolation following its intervention in Ukraine.

Past CIA diplomatic efforts have attempted to persuade Haftar to push Russian forces out of Libya, but with Moscow deepening its ties through economic and security cooperation, the US faces an uphill battle in curbing Russia’s growing influence in the region.