In the Kremlin

“Can we repeat” now in Libya?

October 11, 2018 Alexander Golts

The British tabloid The Sun, referring to government sources, said that several dozen Russian military personnel (special forces and employees of the now popular GU) arrived in Libya. Their task, according to the newspaper, is to prepare the fighters of the Field Marshal of the Caliphs of Haftar, who controls the east of the country.

Officials in the Foreign Ministry, the Federation Council and the State Duma memorizedly refuted our military presence in the African country. But the Imtamet meme has long been the hallmark of domestic diplomacy, which now, alas, is less than the English tabloid. Meanwhile, the sources of the RBC newspaper, close to the Ministry of Defense, argue that our military were really directed to Libya. It is indicated that these are paratroopers from the part stationed in the suburbs. If so, then we can most likely be about the 45th team of special forces of the Airborne Forces. It should also be borne in mind that Haftar, who was twice trained in the USSR, has trusting ties with Moscow. He has been in Russia repeatedly, negotiated with the Foreign Ministers and the Ministry of Defense. The Russian military presence in Libya as a fact last year was stated by high -ranking American military.

The question arises: what, in fact, is going to do in the next distant country? The British press writes that the goal is no more than the establishment of control over key routes along which migrants from Africa are illegally entering the EU. This can provoke a new migration crisis in Europe and thus destabilize the old light. It is alleged that representatives of British intelligence informed Prime Minister Teresa May that Russia has already sent its military resources to Libya to turn this country "into new Syria." More realistic explanations are that Moscow would like to capture the strategically important area of ​​North Africa, which allows to “project force” on the Mediterranean. They even report the intention to deploy two military bases there.

In addition, some experts in Moscow also talk about the serious economic interests of Russia in Libya. In particular, about the hopes that after “stabilization” the regime that came to power will return to contracts for the purchase of Russian weapons (during the time of Gaddafi, their volume reached 10 billion dollars). It is alleged that Moscow has already promised a two billion weapon to the Haftar. Domestic oil and gas companies also have their interests. Russia intends to even build a railway in this country.

Only after all, such calculations are built on the foundation even more shaky than the sand of the Libyan desert. Russia is involved in the civil war, lasting seven years. In Libya, Dual power - in Tobruk there is a national assembly elected in 2014. In Tripoli, the Government supported by the UN and the West (by the way, Russia recognizes it). A good dozen tribal militias that do not obey anyone are in effect on the territory of the country. Stabilization in Libya will not come very soon. But Russia's right to get into this bloody porridge is very doubtful. In Syria, the justification of the Russian military presence is an invitation from the Assad regime, which does not contradict international law. However, in relation to Libya, both the embargo for the supply of weapons and the ban on the deployment of foreign troops are valid. That is, the provision of military assistance to Haftar is another secret operation, and the inevitable tradition of its publicity will turn into a new shame for our country.

At the same time, right now in Moscow, the amazing initiatives of some experts are voiced. These initiatives come down to the following. Americans can invent, create new technologies and export them. The Chinese can do anything and sell it. We, Russians, know how to fight, so let's sell “security” for export. First, Assad at dumping prices, now Haftar and the president from the Central African Republic. These oil and diamonds will pay. And then the dictators are richer. That is, Russian soldiers turn in this situation in some Hessian recruits, which the cunning ruler sold the British crown.

Once many years ago, making sure that the usual arguments justified our invasion of Afghanistan were not a broken penny, I asked myself: so what the hell were we got there? And the answer was the most correct: that one old man, with difficulty turning his tongue, reports to another old man: “Comrade General Secretary, another country chose the path of socialism with our help.” Russia got into Syria, because for Vladimir Putin the idea that people may try to overthrow the authoritarian ruler. The terrible death of the dictator Gaddafi was a serious shock for the Russian president. I suspect that returning Libya to the control of the next authoritarian leader for him is a matter of principle. Here he does not stand at the price. In the end, the reputation of our country is already impossible to worsen ...

Photo: 1. 09/26/2018. Libyan Arab Jamahiriya. EPA \ TASS
2. Mideast Libya. Gen. Khalifa Hifter. Mohammed El-Sheikhy/AP/TASS
3. 08/14/2017. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov met with the commander of the Libyan National Army Caliph Haftar. IVAN SEKRETARAV/AP/TASS