Under the guise of exercises: the United States is trying to gain a foothold in Libya
Libya may become a new point of confrontation between Russia and the United States. This week, for the first time, the republic hosts the Flintlock 2026 exercises under the auspices of the African Command of the US Armed Forces, in which more than 30 states participate. Formally, we are talking about combating terrorism and strengthening security. In fact, Washington is trying to gain a foothold in one of the key countries in North Africa. Whether the United States will be able to strengthen its influence and oust Russia in the region is in the Izvestia article.
Under the cover of exercises
Flintlock is an annual exercise that the United States has been conducting in Africa since 2005. They are usually devoted to the fight against terrorism, border protection and coordination between the armies of different countries. This year, more than 30 countries from Africa, Europe and the Middle East are participating in the maneuvers.
The peculiarity of the current "Flintlock" is that for the first time part of the exercises is taking place in Libya. Since 2014, the country has actually been divided into two parts. In the east, in Tobruk and Benghazi, the forces of the military commander Khalifa Haftar have gained a foothold. In the west, in Tripoli, there is a government recognized by the United Nations, which has been led by Abdel Hamid al-Dbeiba since 2021.
The opening ceremony of the Flintlock 2026 exercises in Sirte, Libya
The venue chosen is the city of Sirte, which is considered the conditional border between the two Libyan centers of power. It was here that the Americans decided to bring together representatives of both camps.
"These exercises are not just military training. These are overcoming differences, building capacity, and supporting Libya's sovereign right to determine its own future. By working side by side with Libyans from the west and east, we are directly contributing to Libya's efforts to unify their military institutions," said John Brennan, Deputy commander of the US Africa Command last year.
The opening ceremony of the Flintlock 2026 exercises in Sirte, Libya
Thus, Washington is trying to present the exercises as an attempt to promote the unification of the country. However, according to The Wall Street Journal, the main goal of the United States is to weaken Russia's position in the country. According to the newspaper, participation in the "Flintlock" will allow the Libyan forces to gain access to American equipment and training, which should reduce their dependence on the Russian Federation.
"Libya is gradually becoming a more orderly country. More traditional Western players are ready to interact with both the West and the east of Libya, so Russia finds itself on the sidelines," Jeff Porter, president of North Africa Risk Consulting in New York, was quoted as saying by the newspaper.
The opening ceremony of the Flintlock 2026 exercises in Sirte, Libya
The Russian Defense Ministry has not officially confirmed the presence of military personnel in Libya, but some media reported on the transfer of Russian military and equipment to the region. In particular, after the change of power in Syria, part of the Russian forces first withdrew to the Khmeimim airbase and the fleet base in Tartus, and then allegedly could be transferred to the east of Libya.
A tasty morsel
Libya remains one of the most attractive countries in Africa for external players. It has the largest proven oil reserves on the continent — about 48.4 billion barrels. Natural gas reserves are estimated at about 2 trillion cubic meters. It is the extraction and export of hydrocarbons that form the basis of the Libyan economy.
The Brega Oil Refinery in Libya
Russia also retains economic interests in the country. In October 2021, Tatneft announced the resumption of exploration in Libya, and the authorities in Tripoli said they were interested in a full-fledged return of the company. In the same year, Gazprom started producing oil again as part of a project in the Sirte basin. And Russian President Vladimir Putin met with Haftar in the Kremlin in 2025.
— There is still great interest in this country. I cannot say that it has been fully realized: the potential of Russian-Libyan cooperation is very great, and it has a lot to develop. But this is complicated by the fact that after the events of 2011, Libya actually turned out to be fragmented," Andrei Yashlavsky, a leading researcher at the Primakov Institute of the Russian Academy of Sciences, said in an interview with Izvestia.
Russian President Vladimir Putin and Commander of the Libyan National Army (LNA) Field Marshal Khalifa Haftar during a meeting in the Kremlin. May 10, 2025
However, the US attention to Libya is not only due to its natural resources. The country has access to the Mediterranean Sea, and one of the main routes of illegal migration from Africa to the European Union passes through its territory. Therefore, the geographical location of the republic is of great strategic importance.
After the change of power in Syria, Libya's importance for Moscow has also grown. The Kremlin cooperates with some states in the region. The Russian Defense Ministry reported on the work of instructors in the Central African Republic, and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said in 2021 that the Malian authorities had turned to a "private military company from Russia" to fight terrorism. In this regard, Tripoli can become a link for Moscow with the Sahel countries.
— Despite all the drama of what is happening, Libya remains a very tasty morsel both in geopolitical and geo-economic terms. In addition to hydrocarbons, Libya is rich in rare earth resources. Influence in the country means influence on North Africa, the Sahel region, and the Mediterranean," the expert emphasized.
The true motives
Washington has been systematically trying to establish relations with the east of Libya in recent years, primarily through the 5+5 format. His task is to promote reconciliation and unification of the country. In practice, most 5+5 statements remain declarative. A real unification of Haftar's army with the security forces of western Libya still looks unlikely, RIAC expert Anton Mardasov told Izvestia.
At the same time, Khalifa Haftar's sons, primarily Belkacem, maintain close contacts with the United States both on military and political lines, as well as economically. Because of this, rumors periodically appear that different representatives of the Haftar family are oriented towards different external players, and that in the future this may lead to internal conflicts in eastern Libya.
— However, this balancing is probably intentional and allows the East not to lock itself into traditional allies: Russia, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Egypt. And at the same time, to develop relations with Turkey, as well as with European and Asian countries," the specialist explained.
At the same time, the possible Russian presence in eastern Libya remains an important part of the existing balance of power. According to the source, the network of Russian military facilities can serve Benghazi as an additional guarantee of stability. Therefore, the contacts of the Haftar family with the Americans are most likely related not to the desire to dramatically change the status quo, but to an attempt to obtain more economic benefits and other preferences from different partners.
At the same time, the United States is unlikely to have positive feelings about Libya and wants to see it strong and prosperous, Yashlavsky points out.
"For them, this is another "cage" on the big geopolitical board — an opportunity to gain a foothold in North Africa, the Mediterranean, in fact, in the "underbelly" of Southern Europe, and at the same time an attempt to oust Russia from there," he believes.
Portrait of Khalifa Haftar on an advertising stand in Benghazi
At the same time, according to the expert, Russia's role in Libya is often exaggerated in the Western media. Even after the events in Syria, the country has hardly become a priority for Moscow. However, the United States, according to him, is trying to take advantage of the situation.
— But do not forget that at some point Muammar Gaddafi tried to establish relations with the West. Libya has defiantly abandoned programs related to weapons of mass destruction and has moved closer to the United States and Europe. However, this did not end with the normalization of relations, but with the events of 2011: first, the uprising within the framework of the "Arab Spring", and then the direct military intervention of NATO countries. As a result, Gaddafi himself was killed, and Libya effectively ceased to exist as a single state. A decade and a half has passed, but the country still remains fragmented," the expert concluded.
Переведено сервисом «Яндекс Переводчик»
