Adel Karmous, a member of Libya’s High Council of State (HCS) expressed concern that “expanding Russian influence in Libya could lead to further political stagnation. Especially amid the deepening conflict between Moscow and Washington over various regional and international issues.”
Karmous questioned any potential shift in Russia’s stance, following the visit of HCS Head, Mohamed Takala to Moscow. He also questioned whether this visit could “lead to Russia adopting a neutral position in the Libyan arena, or at least becoming less biased towards one party.”
In a statement to Al-Sharq Al-Awsat, Karmous argued that Russia supported the eastern-based forces in their advance towards the capital in 2019 and 2020. As well as confirming ongoing military coordination with the Commander-in-Chief of the Libyan National Army (LNA), Field Marshal Khalifa Haftar
This coordination is evident in three consecutive visits by Russia’s Deputy Minister of Defense to Benghazi since August.
Karmous believes that these indicators “not only highlight the difficulty of changing Russian convictions and alliances, but also anticipate western Libya’s political and military forces rejecting any mediation offer from Russia, to resolve the political crisis in the country.”
On Saturday, Haftar hosted a meeting with the Russian Deputy Defence Minister, Yunus-bek Yevkurov and his accompanying delegation in Benghazi.
According to a statement released by the LNA, the meeting focused on ways to enhance bilateral cooperation, between Libya and Russia.
This interaction is indicative of Libya’s efforts to engage with key global players, in the context of its ongoing political and military challenges.
In a parallel diplomatic initiative, Haftar also received Michael Unmacht, the German Ambassador to Libya.
This engagement was critical for addressing the evolving political situation in Libya. The dialogue centered around the pressing need for ongoing communication, and joint efforts towards organising elections in the country. This is an essential step towards establishing a stable and democratic governance structure.