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U.S. remains on the sidelines in Libya's conflict as Russia extends its reach
Source: Washington Post
U.S. remains on the sidelines in Libya’s conflict as Russia extends its reach
By Missy Ryan and Sudarsan Raghavan
7/17/2020, 10:07:38 a.m.
An absence of U.S. leadership in Libya has allowed a dangerous international confrontation to deepen, analysts say, as a spiraling proxy war stokes threats to American economic and security interests and provides Russia a platform to expand its clout in the Mediterranean.
The U.S. position on the margins of the conflict — complicated by uncertainty about which side Washington supports — takes on new significance as Russia, Turkey and now possibly Egypt pour weapons and fighters into a combustible battle.
“The U.S. is essentially out of the game. The Libyans are unable to make their own decisions, entirely dependent on foreign actors,” a Western diplomat said. “There is total drift.”
Libya in recent months has become a free-for-all for regional and European powers, many of them American allies that have stepped into the security and political vacuum in support of rival governments. A divide is now also growing among NATO nations, while mercenaries from Russia, Syria and sub-Saharan Africa rush in, sensing economic opportunity.
-snip-
By Missy Ryan and Sudarsan Raghavan
7/17/2020, 10:07:38 a.m.
An absence of U.S. leadership in Libya has allowed a dangerous international confrontation to deepen, analysts say, as a spiraling proxy war stokes threats to American economic and security interests and provides Russia a platform to expand its clout in the Mediterranean.
The U.S. position on the margins of the conflict — complicated by uncertainty about which side Washington supports — takes on new significance as Russia, Turkey and now possibly Egypt pour weapons and fighters into a combustible battle.
“The U.S. is essentially out of the game. The Libyans are unable to make their own decisions, entirely dependent on foreign actors,” a Western diplomat said. “There is total drift.”
Libya in recent months has become a free-for-all for regional and European powers, many of them American allies that have stepped into the security and political vacuum in support of rival governments. A divide is now also growing among NATO nations, while mercenaries from Russia, Syria and sub-Saharan Africa rush in, sensing economic opportunity.
-snip-
Read more: https://www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/us-remains-on-the-sidelines-in-libyas-conflict-as-russia-extends-its-reach/2020/07/17/04be5100-bf90-11ea-864a-0dd31b9d6917_story.html
