The Russian military hosted Khalifa Hifter, the general loyal to the eastern Libyan government, onboard the aircraft carrier Admiral Kuznetsov on Jan. 11. According to the Russian Defense Ministry, Hifter was given a tour of the aircraft carrier before holding a videoconference with Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu to discuss ways in which Russia can help with counterterrorism. Later, Hifter reportedly signed a memorandum of understanding to supply the Libyan National Army (LNA) with first-aid kits and essential medical supplies.

The Russian carrier was on its way from Syrian waters to its homeport in Russia when it stopped off the Libyan coast in Moscow's latest move signaling its support for the LNA and its commander and the broader Libyan coalition largely opposed to the internationally recognized, UN-backed Government of National Accord (GNA) in Tripoli and the UN-brokered Libyan Political Agreement (LPA). Agilah Saleh, president of the House of Representatives in Tobruk and the coalition's political and nominal leader, visited Moscow Dec. 13 and met with Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and other officials. Saleh and Lavrov discussed the Libyan Political Dialogue process, implementation of the LPA, the Libyan economy, security and counterterrorism.

Russia is trying to politically dominate the Libya file on the international stage like it did with Syria. Despite Moscow's obvious support of the LNA and the eastern Libya-based authorities, Russia has tried to reach out to other Libyan factions and actors, including the GNA as well as Misratan leaders. There are reports that Moscow has extended invitations to GNA Prime Minister Fayez al-Serraj and Abdulrahman Swehli, president of the consultative State Council, to visit Moscow to discuss the Libyan peace process. Last June, Misratan Ahmed Maiteq, deputy president of the GNA’s presidential council, visited Moscow accompanied by the GNA Defense Minister-designate Mahdi al-Bargathi and Foreign Minister-designate Taher Syiala. In December, the Russian ambassador to Libya, Ivan Molotkov, met with the GNA Defense Minister-designate Bargathi to discuss military cooperation, including the maintenance and upgrading of Russian military hardware in Libya.

Russia has not played a dominant role in Libya since the overthrow of Moammar Gadhafi. Rather, other powers, including the United States and Europe, and regional actors, including Egypt, Turkey, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates, have been heavily involved in Libya’s post-Gadhafi transition. Russia has, however, remained focused and engaged in Libya and is now involved there as part of its geopolitical game and expansion of its influence in the Middle East. This is also in part due to Russian companies’ commercial interests.