Putin Promotes Libyan Strongman as New Ally After Syria Victory
- Haftar seeks key role as Russia hosts him repeatedly in Moscow
- U.S. says prime minister is only legitimate leader of Libya
This article is for subscribers only.
Flush with success in supporting his ally in Syria, Vladimir Putin has a new ambition: supporting another one, this time in Libya. The effort is beginning to undermine the UN-backed government there.
Russian President Putin’s government is befriending a powerful military leader, Khalifa Haftar, who now controls more territory than any other faction in the tumultuous, oil-rich North African state. In two visits to Moscow in the past half-year, Haftar met the defense and foreign ministers, plus the national-security chief, to seek support. A top ally also visited last week and Russia is supplying funds and military expertise to Haftar’s base in the east.