Bloomberg: Russia is negotiating the creation of a military base in Libya. The US fears that this agreement will allow Russia to monitor the entire European Union

The authorities of Russia and Libya are negotiating the creation of a Russian military base on the territory of the African country, Bloomberg reports.

Agency sources, who wished to remain anonymous, said that work on a military agreement between Russian President Vladimir Putin and the commander-in-chief of the Libyan National Army, which controls the east of the country, Khalifa Haftar, began shortly after their meeting in Moscow at the end of September 2023.

As part of this agreement, Russia may receive the right to permanently station its warships, probably in the port of Tobruk on the Mediterranean coast. Also, the Russian Federation may receive for its use several air bases where Wagner PMC fighters are currently stationed.

At the same time, Haftar, according to agency sources, needs air defense systems that Russia can provide. In addition, the Russian military could help Haftar with training pilots and special forces soldiers.

Agency sources note that before Russia can use the Libyan port for military purposes, it will be necessary to modernize the port infrastructure.

At the same time, former US special envoy to Libya Jonathan Weiner, in a conversation with Bloomberg, noted that the American authorities “very seriously” take the topic of a potential expansion of the Russian military presence in Libya. “Keeping Russia out of the Mediterranean was a key strategic objective - if Russia got ports there, it would give it the ability to spy on the entire European Union,” Weiner said.