Marshal Khalifa Haftar has met with an American delegation; while the Egyptian President has received the Libyan Tribal Council. Italian officials have also held a meeting with the GNA

Egypt, United States and Italy oversee latest developments in Libya

photo_camera PHOTO/LNA - Khalifa Haftar, chief of the LNA

In anticipation of the more than probable military escalation that will take place in the next few hours on the geostrategic enclaves of Sirte and Al-Jufra, in the north and centre of Libyan territory, respectively, the international powers that have interests in the conflict continue to move their pieces on the board. 

On the side of the Libya National Army (LNA), it has been known that the commander and marshal Khalifa Haftar held a meeting on Wednesday with a U.S. delegation composed of high-level political and military officials to discuss the latest developments of the civil war. According to Libya Akhbar, the objective of the meeting was to "try to reach a ceasefire", and according to Middle East Eye analyst Ragip Soylu, the US officials told the Marshal that in order for the cessation of hostilities to be accepted, it is necessary for him to withdraw his units from the Oil Crescent - the strip that extends along the Libyan coast from Sirte to Ras Lanuf - and accept the presence of a European peace force in the area. 

The United States has adopted a diffuse position during the contest in which it does not seem to have positioned itself in favour of either of the two factions. It had implicitly shown its support for the LNA, since it rejects the idea that the Islamist groups that are part of the rival side, the Government of National Unity (GNA), defended by Turkey, Qatar and the Muslim Brothers, should take control of the country. However, in a letter issued by the Secretary of State, US President Donald Trump flatly rejected the peace initiative presented by Egypt, an invaluable ally of Haftar, which undoubtedly favoured the LNA. In addition, this Wednesday, the US Africa Command (AFRICOM) has again attacked the National Liberation Army in a statement accusing the Russian mercenaries of the Wagner Group, who have supported the marshal, of "complicating the Libyan ceasefire". "We have clear evidence that the Wagner Group laid landmines and improvised explosive devices (IEDs) in and around Tripoli, further violating the UN arms embargo and endangering the lives of innocent Libyans," the statement said. "The Wagner Group's irresponsible tactics are prolonging the conflict and are responsible for the unnecessary suffering and death of innocent civilians. Russia has the power to stop them, but not the will," the statement said.

In view of these harsh declarations, which threaten to transfer the cold war between Washington and Moscow to Libya as well, Haftar would have taken the step of approaching the United States, which has also shown a preference for the political path initiated by the United Nations (UN) - which could be more favourable to the GNA, since it was the UN that sponsored the government now led by Sarraj - rather than the other proposals promoted by the LNA. Thus, the marshal seems to be aware that, if the American giant finally opts for its rival faction, the GNA, its options for winning the war would be limited, taking into account, moreover, its powerful influence on the other powers involved in the conflict.

In fact, on this same day, the US Secretary of State, Mike Pompeo, held a telephone conversation with the Tunisian Minister of Foreign Affairs, Noureddine Erray, in which they discussed "ways to improve cooperation in the UN Security Council, strengthen bilateral relations and advance in a negotiated political solution to end the conflict in Libya". The position of the country led by Kais Saied on the civil war in its neighbouring nation has also been dubious. Although the president has defended neutrality in public, the truth is that some movements that have taken place unofficially have tipped the balance in favor of the GNA and its allies, especially Turkey. However, it should also be recalled that Tunisia has been working with Algeria and Egypt to achieve a solution to the Libyan puzzle of a purely Arab nature, without interference from third parties outside the continent, sponsored by its three neighbours.

El comandante de las fuerzas estadounidenses en África (AFRICOM), el general Thomas D. Dahwasser
President Al-Sisi continues to raise the tone against Turkey

The President of Egypt, Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, received a delegation of Libyan tribes on Thursday in the capital, Cairo, led by the Supreme Council of Sheikhs and Notables, representing "all the Libyan people", announced the spokesman of the Egyptian Presidency Bassam Radi. 

During the meeting, the president reaffirmed that "the main objective of Egyptian efforts in Libya at all levels is to activate the will of the Libyan people for a better future for the country and the next generations. Also at the summit, "ways to put an end to the blatant interference and violation of Libyan sovereignty" by Turkey were discussed. In a statement the Tribal Council said that "Turkish behaviour in Libya represents a direct threat to Libya and neighbouring countries, including Egypt" and called for "strengthening efforts with neighbouring countries to ensure the national security of Egypt and Libya, so as to guarantee the national will and preserve the resources of the Libyan people against the invaders". The spokesperson of the entity has declared, in this line, that "all Arab countries should intervene to stop foreign occupation", in a clear reference to Ankara.

It should be recalled at this point that the Supreme Council of Sheikhs and Notables showed its support for the resolution adopted by the Parliament of Tobruk, fiefdom of the LNA, authorising possible Egyptian military intervention in the country to protect national security. 

Italy strengthens its cooperation with the GNA

An Italian delegation led by Interior Minister Luciana Lamorgese also travelled to Tripoli on Thursday to meet with Libyan Prime Minister Fayez Sarraj. During the meeting, both parties discussed "security cooperation, including the development of security capabilities, the archiving of illegal immigration and the fight against human trafficking", as Libya Akhbar revealed. They also discussed "the preliminary steps for the return of Italian companies to Libya, Rome's contribution to the process of eliminating mines in some areas, such as the Matika/Mitiga airport, the closure of the country's oil fields and the need to reactivate oil production". 

El primer ministro libio del GNA, Fayez Sarraj, con la ministra del Interior de Italia, Luciana Lamorgese, en la capital libia, Trípoli, el 16 de julio de 2020

The next few hours will be decisive for Libya's future. Eyes are on Sirte, rich in black gold. The GNA, supported by Turkey -which has been known this Thursday to have installed Hawk model air defense systems at the Al-Watiya base and deployed Bayraktar drones in Misrata- could launch an offensive against the town, which is currently defended by the LNA. If this were to happen, Egypt would get involved in the battle, internationalizing the conflict with unpredictable consequences.

More in Politics