On 2 February, Defense News published an article by Tom Kington titled ‘What military advantage could Russia get out of Libya?’. Looking at recent visits by Russia’s deputy defense minister to Libya and his meetings with General Khalifa Haftar, Kington argues that Moscow is keen on ‘making the African nation another stepping stone to influence the region’. He also points to reports that Russia is considering the use of the coastal city Tobruk as a base for naval vessels, arguing that in exchange, Haftar will ‘expect Russian personnel to continue operating air defense systems in the country as protection against Turkey’s military presence in western Libya’.
Read the full article here.