The EU’s incoherent policy on Libya has allowed Russia to gain a lot of ground just south of its shores. The Italy-France rivalryIn the post-Gaddafi era, the main European rivalry in Libya has been between Italy and France. By supporting Haftar in Libya, France is helping Abu Dhabi achieve its regional ambitions while also curtailing Ankara’s plans to expand its influence over the Eastern Mediterranean region. Furthermore, these divisions within the EU created space for Russia to become a major player in Libya. Russian military involvement in Libya escalated sharply in April 2019, when Haftar launched a military campaign to capture Tripoli.

Source: Libya Today December 21, 2020 20:03 UTC