US Considers Ramping Up Libya Presence

In an article published yesterday, CNN reported that according to US government sources,  there is a new diplomatic and military policy for Libya that could be finalized by the Trump administration in the next few weeks. This policy, if approved, could reportedly significantly expand US involvement in Libya by supporting political reconciliation efforts, establishing a new counterterrorism intelligence sharing coordination center with Libyan officials led by US special forces, and facilitating the re-opening of the US embassy in Tripoli, as well as potentially re-establishing a US presence in Benghazi. If this policy is approved, the CNN’s sources expect that up to 50 US special operations troops could be sent to Libya on a rotating basis to share counterintelligence information.If it is true there is a US Libya proposal on the table, it does not mean that such a policy will be approved -- if it is, it may take many months to enact. Nevertheless, the fact that there is even a possibility that the Trump administration is considering a Libya policy is significant as until now there has been barely any indication of the US position towards Libya.  The reactivation of a US role in Libya could help breakthrough the current political impasse provided polices are not purely counter terror-oriented.Click here to read the full article.