Libya turns on Russia over Ukraine war, but does it matter?
Libya’s incoming prime minister initially avoided commenting on Russia’s war in Ukraine. But after Russia welcomed his new government, he turned against Moscow.
In his vote of confidence speech delivered on March 1 before parliament in Tobruk, Libya’s incoming Prime Minister Fathi Bashagha avoided any mention of the Russian invasion of Ukraine despite it being the dominant event of international politics. As the new prime minister, it would have made sense to comment on the issue.
The Russian Foreign Ministry was the first major power to have welcomed Bashagha and his new government. The ministry’s spokeswoman, Maria Zakharova, commented by saying, "We think that this choice by Libyan lawmakers should be respected."
