Russia risks damaging relationships over Libyan intervention

RUSSIA / FSU POLITICS - In Brief 22 Dec 2019 by Alex Teddy
On December 22 the US expressed is concern over Russian military support for the rebels in Libya. The United States accused Russian mercenaries Wagner of fighting alongside Khalifa Haftar's forces to overthrow the internationally recognized government. Haftar's men are called the Libyan National Army. Washington DC believes that regular Russian Army units are in Libya - albeit in small numbers - as well as Wagner. Haftar is a Libyan-American so he can be blamed on the United States.On December 20 Turkey voiced its disapproval of the Russian actions in Libya. Turkey recognizes the Libyan Government and in November 2019 signed an agreement to grant military aid to Libya. An arms embargo on Libya prohibits this but the Turks shipped weapons anyway. The UAE and Egypt are backing the LNA. In January 2020 Putin is due to go to Turkey where Libya will no doubt be on the agenda. This issue undermines the good relationship between Turkey and Russia. Turkey has publicly considered dispatching troops to Libya. Russian foreign policy is nothing if not transactional. Moscow and Ankara can disagree yet cooperate on Syria for instance.

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