The Donald Trump administration stepped up its criticism of Russia’s role in Libya’s civil war on Thursday.
“Libya has become the next venue for Russia’s malign efforts to exploit regional conflicts for its own narrow political and economic gain,” Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs Christopher Robinson told reporters. “Russia continues its military support for the Libyan National Army of Gen. [Khalifa Hifter]. Russia has provided material and logistical support to the Wagner Group, a US-sanctioned entity led by [President Vladimir Putin] crony Yevgeny Prigozhin, who is also sanctioned by the United States.”
