The Libyan Interior Minister of the Government of National Accord Fathi Bashagha told The Washington Times that the Russians succeeded in Syria, so they think they will be successful in Libya, asserting that the time is right for the US to exert more diplomatic muscle to end this plan and halt the advance of the Libyan National Army.
Bashagha hits again on the same topic and this time he warns via The Washington Times the Americans of the Russian influence, saying Russia’s role in helping President Bashar Assad secure victory in Syria’s civil war has emboldened Moscow to expand its operations into Libya with the goal of supplanting American and Western influence there.
“Without more robust US pressure on regional powers backing Libya’s divided factions, Moscow will exploit the situation and expand its presence in the Mediterranean beyond the sole naval base it now operates in the Syrian port of Tartus.” Bashagha said.
Bashagha’s statement comes on his visit to Washington as he attempts to win the sympathy of the US officials to curb the advance of the Libyan National Army toward Tripoli, accusing Russia of being on the ground helping LNA forces, which remains allegations without evidence, as the question remains whether Donald Trump will change his supporting stance of Field Marshal Khalifa Haftar.
