EU Set to Deploy Warships Off Libya in Rare Hard-Power Display
- Green light for mission to enforce UN arms embargo on country
- Operation ‘Irini’ will also monitor illegal oil exports
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The European Union made a bid for greater geopolitical clout with a new naval mission to help enforce a United Nations arms embargo on Libya and track illicit oil trade in the country.
In a rare joint display of hard power, EU governments decided on Tuesday to deploy warships in the central Mediterranean to inspect vessels suspected of funneling weapons to and from the war-torn state. The operation will also “monitor and gather information on illicit exports from Libya of petroleum, crude oil and refined petroleum products,” the 27-nation bloc said.