Libya Becomes the Latest Battleground as U.S. and Russia Clash Over North Africa’s Future

Rome — The U.S. and Russia are once again locking horns in a geopolitical contest that echoes the Cold War, with Libya emerging as the latest battleground. As former President Donald Trump signals a willingness to engage with Vladimir Putin while shunning traditional U.S. allies, military strategists in Washington are intensifying efforts to counter growing Russian influence in North Africa.

In a significant show of force, the U.S. Air Force dispatched a B-52 bomber to Libya last month in a bid to woo Gen. Khalifa Haftar, the de facto ruler of eastern Libya, whose forces have been increasingly reliant on Russian military support. The U.S. visit comes amid concerns that Moscow is solidifying its foothold in the country, using it as a launchpad to bolster regimes hostile to Washington across the African continent.

Russia Expands Its Presence in Libya

Following the U.S. military visit, Russia responded swiftly. Yunus-Bek Yevkurov, Russia’s deputy defence minister, made yet another visit to eastern Libya, reinforcing Moscow’s strategic ties with Haftar’s forces. The number of Russian troops stationed at Brak al-Shati airbase has surged from 300 to 450 since November, reflecting an expanding presence that alarms Western policymakers.

Experts suggest that the Kremlin views Libya as a crucial asset for extending its influence in Africa, providing strategic depth against NATO’s southern flank. The growing Russian military footprint in the region also worries Italy, whose Defense Minister, Guido Crosetto, warned that Moscow's potential redeployment of warships from Syria to Libya would put them “two steps” from Italian shores.

U.S. Attempts to Counter Russia’s Influence

The Pentagon is spearheading Washington’s response, holding ground-targeting exercises with Haftar’s forces as B-52H Stratofortress bombers flew overhead. The Biden administration, which has lacked a clear Libya policy, has largely left the situation to the Department of Defense.

“Haftar tells the U.S. he would work with them but says Russia provides him with air defences and military training,” said Jalel Harchaoui, an analyst at the Royal United Services Institute (RUSI). “The U.S. tells him it would give him more if only he would distance himself from Russia.”

Despite these efforts, scepticism remains high in Washington. Ben Fishman, a senior fellow at the Washington Institute for Near East Policy, dismissed the notion that military demonstrations like B-52 flyovers would convince Haftar to abandon his Russian backers. “Those B-52s won’t change his mind,” he said, emphasizing that Haftar’s forces remain a cohesive military entity while Tripoli-based forces remain fractured among rival militias.

Internal Power Struggles: Haftar’s Son and the U.S. Connection

While Haftar himself remains closely aligned with Moscow, his son Saddam Haftar, who commands eastern Libya’s land forces, has shown interest in deepening ties with Washington.

“There is a belief the Russians were playing a double game in Libya with both Haftar and Muammar Gaddafi’s son, Saif Al-Islam Gaddafi,” said Mohamed Eljarh, an analyst at Libya Outlook. “Saddam is leading efforts to be closer to the U.S. and even visited the U.S. last year.”

Russia, aware of this shift, has reportedly attempted to secure a visit from Saddam Haftar to Moscow, but those efforts appear to have stalled.

Trump’s Uncertain Stance on Libya

With the 2024 U.S. elections having returned Trump to the White House, analysts question whether his administration will take a firm stance on Russia’s activities in Libya.

“There is no sign of the Trump administration’s approach yet,” said Umberto Profazio, an analyst at the International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS). “Given its unorthodox view of Russia and its broader disengagement from overseas conflicts, the U.S. may ultimately allow Russia more leeway in Libya.”

As Washington and Moscow jostle for influence, Libya remains a volatile chessboard in the broader global power struggle—one where Cold War-era rivalries remain very much alive.