EU allies to beef up Libya arms embargo

France, Italy and Germany are “ready to consider” sanctions on foreign powers violating an arms embargo in Libya.

Fighters loyal to the Libyan Government of National Accord prepare their ammunition before heading to the frontline for battles against forces of Khalifa Haftar. Picture: AFP

France, Italy and Germany are “ready to consider” sanctions on foreign powers violating an arms embargo in Libya.

A joint statement by the countries leaders issued on Sunday AEST did not directly name any foreign actors funnelling arms to Libya but multiple powers have been sending fighters and weapons, fuelling a proxy war that reflects wider geopolitical rifts and divisions in the Middle East and within NATO.

While forces loyal to strongman and self-styled field marshal Khalifa Haftar are backed by Russia, Egypt and the United Arab Emirates, the UN-recognised unity government is fighting back with Turkey’s support.

“We ... urge all foreign actors to end their increasing interference and to fully respect the arms embargo established by the United Nations Security Council,” the statement said. “We are ready to consider the possible use of sanctions should breaches to the embargo at sea, on land or in the air continue.”

German Chancellor Angela Merkel, France’s President Emmanuel Macron and Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte said they looked forward to proposals from EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell on solutions.

Voicing “grave concerns” over the escalating military tensions in Libya, they urged “all Libyan parties and their foreign supporters for an immediate cessation of fighting and for a stop of the ongoing military build-up throughout the country”.

In Brussels for a crunch EU summit, the three European leaders had met on the sidelines of the meeting to discuss the deteriorating situation in Libya.

It came after UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said this month that foreign interference in Libya’s war has reached “unprecedented levels”.

That is despite an agreement in Berlin in January by leaders of world powers and other countries with interests in Libya’s war to respect the arms embargo, hold off on military support to the warring parties and push them to reach a full ceasefire.

Since 2015, a power struggle has pitted the UN-recognised, Tripoli-based Government of National Accord against forces loyal to Marshal Haftar, who is based in eastern Benghazi.

Ankara’s military support for the GNA has tipped the balance and allowed its forces in June to repel Marshal Haftar’s 14-month advance on Tripoli and launch a counteroffensive. Last week, Egypt racheted up tensions, with its president warning his country “will not stand idle in the face of any moves that pose a direct threat to the national security not only of Egypt but also that of Libya”.

Libya has been mired in chaos since the 2011 uprising that toppled and later killed longtime dictator Muammar Gaddafi.

The US military has grown increasingly concerned about Russia’s growing influence in Libya, where hundreds of Russian mercenaries have backed a campaign by Marshal Haftar. The report on counter-terrorism operations in Africa by the Pentagon’s internal watchdog, published on Thursday, says Turkey has paid and offered citizenship to thousands of mercenaries fighting alongside Tripoli-based militias against Haftar’s troops.

AFP, AP