UK officials visit Libya to push back against Russian expansion

A delegation of UK Foreign Office officials recently traveled to Libya in an effort to counter Russia’s growing influence in the country’s east, which is controlled by military commander Khalifa Haftar, Politico reports, citing a diplomat speaking on condition of anonymity.

Russia, a key backer of Haftar, has been expanding its footprint in Libya with plans to establish a naval base in Benghazi or Tobruk — a strategic move that could threaten NATO’s southern flank in the Mediterranean.

The British delegation, led by Hamish Falconer, the UK’s Minister for the Middle East and North Africa, met with Libyan officials in Tripoli on Monday.  Falconer reaffirmed the UK commitment to supporting the UN-led political process in Libya, Libya Observer reports.

Discussions reportedly also covered unpaid debts owed to the UK by Libyans who received treatment in British hospitals. Migration was reportedly discussed but was not the main focus of the visit.

Originally, the officials were scheduled to meet Haftar in eastern Libya, but that meeting was canceled when Haftar insisted they also meet with members of the Benghazi-based administration — a government the UK does not formally recognize.

Last week, tensions flared when the head of an EU delegation was expelled from Benghazi and declared persona non grata for reportedly refusing to be photographed with members of the Government of National Stability (GNS) while meeting Haftar.

While the UK maintains contact with Haftar’s Libyan National Army, it only officially recognizes the Tripoli-based Government of National Unity. Libya has remained divided between two rival administrations since the 2011 uprising that toppled and killed longtime leader Muammar Gaddafi.