Russian personnel and private military companies such as Wagner Group and RSB Group have been detected in the ports of Tobruk and Benghazi. General Khalifa Haftar, the warlord who presides over the Libyan National Army militia and controls much of the east of the country, has welcomed Russia’s help, according to the Washington Times.
Strategypage looks at the relationship and adds the detail on special forces.
The initial article speculates about whether the Russians want a hand on the spigot of migrant flows north to Europe. Maybe. Or possibly that Putin is looking for oil. I suppose.
But if the Russians are serious about projecting military power to the eastern Mediterranean Sea, gaining favor with Hiftar might result in Russian air bases in the future.
Why we stiff-armed Hiftar in favor of the troubling UN-favored faction is beyond me.
Mind you, any forces the Russians deploy to Libya or Syria will likely have a short but exciting life in wartime. But they can do serious damage until suppressed. I assume we don't look forward to having the Suez Canal shut down in wartime for any amount of time.
