It was that time again: At the end of last month, the Kremlin sent its deputy defense minister into the desert. This does not mean that Putin wanted to make him disappear from the scene, but rather that Yevkurov should look after his subject in Libya, the warlord Khalifa Haftar. The Russian government wanted to help its governor in North Africa get out of the messy situation after the natural disaster. When the images were published, with trucks full of aid from Russia, the aim was to further enhance the dictator in eastern Libya, while allowing the Kremlin to signal to the West that it was strengthening its position in Libya – and thus on NATO’s southern flank.
But it wasn’t just the aid deliveries that were intended to send a signal; they were probably only intended for the PR departments anyway. Much more important was probably the announcement that with the aid supplies, Wagner’s Russian mercenary troops would also remain in the area occupied by Haftar, but this time under the direct control of the Kremlin. It is of course questionable whether the Russian president was not the actual commander in chief of the group of murderers under Prigozhin’s dictates. By the way, Putin’s emissary presented a pistol to the Libyan warlord, a gesture that leaves no room for interpretation.
Yevkurov’s trips to Africa should make it clear to the governments there as well as to the West that the activities of the Wagner associations are being reorganized in the spirit of President Vladimir Putin. The mercenary force’s Libya mission was and is very useful for both Haftar and the Kremlin. The Libyan National Army under Haftar’s command is a significant support for Putin and a lever for exercising power. Should the visit of the Deputy Defense Minister have just been a flash in the pan? Not at all! Earlier this month, Haftar traveled to Moscow and met not only Yevkurov, but also the ruler in the Kremlin. Putin’s spokesman said the Russian president and the eastern Libyan military leader discussed “the situation in Libya and the region as a whole.”
Moscow seems to want to establish itself permanently in Haftar’s empire. Libya has become an important hub for Moscow’s activities in African countries such as Mali, the Central African Republic and Sudan. It would not be a particular surprise if the reports are correct that Moscow is now working on a naval presence in addition to the existing air force bases. Shortly before the Russian deputy defense minister’s visit, the Wall Street Journal reported, citing Libyan government officials and advisers, that Moscow had negotiated with the Haftar leadership about long-term docking rights in eastern Libyan ports. Russia asked for access to the ports of Benghazi or Tobruk. There the Russian Navy should have the opportunity to refuel, supply and repair its ships.
These reports have not been officially confirmed. It is always appropriate to be suspicious if the reports alone benefit Russian interests. In the West, people have been concerned about Haftar’s alliance with Putin for a long time. The USA in particular is working to counteract Russian expansion in Africa. The presence near NATO countries such as Greece or Italy is a military threat to the alliance. According to Western diplomats, Putin aims to bring Europe to its knees further by increasing the flow of migrants. There are already regular flights from the regions of Syria controlled by Putin’s protégé Bashar al-Assad to eastern Libya. From there, with the help of Haftar’s people, they continue to Europe. In general, the number of boats setting sail from eastern Libya has increased.
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