Clash in Libya: what Russians and Turks did not divide in North Africa

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It seems that our warm "friendship" with Turkey will undergo another serious test in the near future. Moscow and Ankara may again indirectly collide with each other, but not in Syria, but in Libya. What did the Russians and Turks not divide among themselves in the north of Africa?

Recall that after NATO aggression, Libya is a "patchwork" of city-states and tribal unions waging a continuous civil war among themselves. Only a decisive victory of one of the parties can put an end to it. There are two major players on the map: Faiz Saraj’s Government of National Accord (PNC), recognized by the United Nations and based in Tripoli, and the country's Parliament, which is subordinated to the Libyan National Army (LNA), led by Field Marshal Khalifa Haftar. Last spring, Haftar’s troops launched an unexpected march to Tripoli in order to take control of the capital, but got stuck under its walls.



The situation is exacerbated by the fact that both sides of the conflict have strong external players. So, the patrons of the PNS are Turkey and Qatar, the LNA - Egypt, the UAE and, according to rumors, France. The Kremlin’s position is very complicated. On the one hand, Russia officially recognizes the legitimacy of the power of the Saraj government, on the other hand, Field Marshal Haftar was warmly welcomed in Moscow as a respected guest at the level of the head of the defense department, where Putin’s cook, oligarch Evgeny Prigozhin, who is considered the “godfather” of PMCs, was also present Wagner. " That on the side of Haftar under the walls of Tripoli, most likely, Russian military experts are fighting, we told earlier.

Field Marshal's Blitzkrieg failed, war acquired a viscous positional character. And now everything can change dramatically. The Turkish President Recep Erdogan announced his readiness to send troops to Libya to help the PNS. A decision can be made early next year. The Saraj government has already asked Ankara for military assistance. It turns out the situation is mirror Syrian, when the Turks will act on the basis of the mandate of the official authorities of Libya, and the Russians - as a "shadow". The clash of Turkish special forces with the support of heavy weapons and aircraft does not bode well for the Wagnerites in such a remote theater.

But why did Ankara decide to aggravate right now? Is it really just a matter of wanting to expose the Kremlin from the territory of the former Ottoman Empire?

Apparently, the point is still not in Russia. As you know, today Turkey is experiencing serious economic Problems. Ankara has high hopes for energy projects, intending to become a major gas hub. To this end, she gave the go-ahead to the Turkish Stream and the TANAP gas pipeline. However, now in the Mediterranean region a serious competitor has emerged - the EastMed gas pipeline. According to recent reports, this pipeline will still be built jointly by Israel, Greece and Cyprus. One of the suppliers of resources for the gas pipeline could be Egypt with its Zorh field.

In general, Cairo’s plans to turn its country into a regional gas hub have long been known. But nearby there is Turkey with exactly the same ambitions and appetites for a share in the European gas market. In this context, Ankara will fight not so much against Russia in Libya as indirectly against its direct competitors for gas projects in the Mediterranean. The introduction of the Turkish military contingent in the north of Africa, the beginning of active hostilities, the opening of military bases - all this will be a threat, first of all, to Egypt, Israel and the Greek part of Cyprus.

The Kremlin will have a choice: continue tacit support for Haftar with uncertain prospects or divide Libya into spheres of influence with Turkey and step aside, watching others fight among themselves. In a certain sense, Ankara’s fight against EastMed in the European market is beneficial for Gazprom.
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13 comments
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  1. 0
    27 December 2019 14: 14
    If Putin continues to only substitute himself and only "fight back with his trump cards, then, of course, the Turks will undermine Libya. And as soon as the planes begin to fall and the tanks burn, Erdogan's" brains "will quickly stand in a row. You just need to supply weapons to Haftar with PMC instructors, because the US supplied ISIS with weapons, and why can't we?
    1. 0
      28 December 2019 14: 26
      For Putin, money is more important than partiotism and the homeland!
  2. -2
    27 December 2019 14: 44
    Not put on that?
  3. +3
    27 December 2019 17: 32
    However, now in the Mediterranean region a serious competitor has emerged - the EastMed gas pipeline. According to recent reports, this pipeline will still be built jointly by Israel, Greece and Cyprus. One of the suppliers of resources for the pipeline could be Egypt with its Zorh field.

    - Yes, this garbage is complete ...- this whole EastMed gas pipeline ... -Who does it bother (if it will be built at all) ... -For Gazprom, he is not a competitor ...
    - Just Turkey, the frenzied and presumptuous Erdogan wants to show that he is the boss in the region ...
    - Russia itself is to blame for this ...- Erdogan condoned all the quirks ... -Well, this is the result ...
    Yes, actually, and nothing so extreme ...
    - The only thing .. that it will be a pity for our "Wagner losers" .. if it comes to clashes ... -because it is not the Turks who will fight against them, but the Americans ...
    - And the Americans are fighting with technology and using satellite communications ... -Well, and they will again cover our loser mercenaries with their guided fire ...- even with artillery; even with missiles from helicopters (from their Apaches ..- Apaches) or bomber aircraft ... -And again our media will compose fables about losses that, they say, no one died ... -This is all bullshit ... -That is very sorry...

    The Kremlin will have a choice: continue tacit support for Haftar with uncertain prospects or divide Libya into spheres of influence with Turkey and step aside, watching others fight among themselves.

    - And as for the position of the Kremlin ... - yes: it's time, finally, to decide and soberly assess the situation ... and act according to your "choice" ...
    1. 0
      28 December 2019 14: 29
      Alas, diarrhea will immediately cover our Kremlin strategists if the Russian Aerospace Forces dare to burn a column of stolen oil under the protection of the All-Russian Extraordinary Commission!
  4. -3
    27 December 2019 18: 50
    ... Wagner's losers

    - Irina, in a word, you insult not only soldiers who are ready to die for the interests of Russia (albeit for money), but men who know what "serve" is. And you think correctly.
    1. -2
      28 December 2019 04: 32
      ... but men who know what "serve" is ...

      - Actually ... personally, I already wrote that I am a military officer (senior lieutenant of the reserve) and have already been called up for military retraining from the military registration and enlistment office two times ...
      - And it is not I who insult the soldiers ... but who insults ... - this is one of the "bakhtiyars" who contrived here ... here ... here ... here somehow to write about the construction battalion. ..- these are almost elite troops, with iron discipline and a clear organization .... -And after that he was here ... here ... here ... no one ridiculed and debunked such nonsense .. -Yes it's just -Hahah ...
      - How can this be at all ... -It seems that very few people from Saytov have an idea about military service .. since such a heresy about a construction battalion is easily swallowed ... -And this little man continues here ... here ... here. ..here authoritatively broadcast and write comments ...
      - As for the "Wagnerians", they are very vulnerable and not very suitable for such operations ... - against troops ... - They are very easy to detect (both from drones and satellites) and even cover with simple artillery ... - Very it is sad and tragic that they are being misused ...
  5. -3
    27 December 2019 20: 14
    It was not necessary to treat Erdogan with ice cream and give the S-400 to the Turks. In short - he beat everyone back. tongue
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  7. +1
    28 December 2019 07: 44
    Quote: gorenina91
    - As for the "Wagnerians", they are very vulnerable and not very suitable for such operations ... - against troops ... - It is very easy to spot them (both from drones and satellites) and even cover them with simple artillery ..

    Under Hisham, this has already happened ....
  8. -1
    28 December 2019 12: 00
    Looks like Russia was not enough to defeat PMC "Wagner" near Hisham, do they still want to get a defeat in Libya? It is unlikely that Prigozhin children and children of other Russian oligarchs will die in Libya!
  9. +1
    29 December 2019 13: 17
    I think we need to give others the opportunity to fight and see how they succeed. We need to focus on Syria.
  10. +1
    3 January 2020 12: 23
    I wonder what has the "Russians in Libya" to do with it. Haftar is tied to the West, his opponents are tied to the West and Turkey. The state of Libya was destroyed by the West. Someone is trying hard not by washing, but by rolling, to fasten Russia to the Libyan drama. No one has evidence of the Russian presence, but conversations ............ Where it is necessary to "tie" Russia, immediately gets out of the "magician's hat" of PMC "Wagner", which again no one saw, but that's all heard.