Libya

With its proximity to Europe, its significant oil reserves, and its strategic importance to the stability of the North Africa region, the ongoing turmoil in Libya is a concern for the United States and its allies. Rival factions serving as proxies to competing regional powers continue to destabilize the country and hamper any national dialogue efforts. The role of the United States and Europe will be essential in encouraging dialogue, supporting the arms embargo, and contributing to any post-war economic revitalization plan.

Content

In the News

Jun 7, 2015

Gramer on Naval Migrant Interdiction

By Robert Gramer

Defense News quotes Transatlantic Security Initiative Assistant Director Robbie Gramer on the challenges facing European navies as they scramble to address a growing migration crisis:

European Union International Organizations

Event Recap

May 27, 2015

Crisis in Libya: European and Libyan Views

By Rafik Hariri Center for the Middle East

On Wednesday, May 20, the Atlantic Council hosted Dr. Mattia Toaldo, Policy Fellow at the European Council on Foreign Relations, and Abdul Rahman Al Ageli, Cofounder of the Libyan Youth Forum, for a roundtable discussion about the current crisis in Libya. The speakers shared their insights of the nuanced dynamics on-the-ground and Europe’s perspective and […]

Libya

New Atlanticist

May 20, 2015

How Do You Solve a Problem Like Libya?

By Ashish Kumar Sen

Analysts discuss the humanitarian, security, and political crises emanating from a country in chaos  The chaos in Libya that has prevailed since the ouster of Moammar Gadhafi in 2011 has placed both a humanitarian as well as a security crisis on Europe’s doorstep. Libya today has two governments—one in Tripoli and the other in Tobruk. […]

European Union International Organizations

MENASource

May 20, 2015

Libya: Is there Really an Alternative to Dialogue?

By Mohamed Eljarh

Libya continues to suffer the consequences from the ongoing political and armed struggle between various Libyan factions. The rise of the Islamic State (ISIS or ISIL) has further complicated matters—as has the reluctance of the international community to act assertively against other spoilers of the democratic process, contributing to Libya’s downward spiral into civil war […]

Libya

New Atlanticist

May 11, 2015

Is this the Solution to Europe’s Migrant Problem?

By Ashish Kumar Sen

EU plan to bomb traffickers’ ships in Libyan waters ‘counterproductive,’ says Atlantic Council’s Mezran The European Union wants the United Nations to support its plan to destroy human traffickers’ ships in Libyan territorial waters before smugglers use them to ferry migrants across the Mediterranean Sea. Can it work? No, said Karim Mezran, Resident Senior Fellow […]

Europe & Eurasia European Union

New Atlanticist

Apr 27, 2015

Dying to Get to Europe

By Ashish Kumar Sen

Libya’s ‘slave trade’—exodus of migrants from Africa—is a European crisis, says Atlantic Council’s Mezran A European commitment to save lives is “backfiring” as human traffickers continue to pack boats full of migrants fleeing desperate situations in Africa and the Middle East, says Atlantic Council analyst Karim Mezran. Traffickers have exploited instability in Libya to funnel […]

European Union International Organizations
Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi, April 23, 2015

NATOSource

Apr 27, 2015

A Challenge in the South for NATO

By Jim Hoagland, Washington Post

[T]he turmoil sweeping the southern and eastern shores of the Mediterranean today threatens to transform Europe’s strategic outlook on security matters.

France Italy

In the News

Apr 23, 2015

Eljarh: The View From Libya, Ground Zero in the Migrant Crisis

By Mohamed Eljarh

Rafik Hariri Center Nonresident Fellow Mohamed Eljarh writes for Foreign Policy on the human trafficking crisis in Libya that led to the deadliest tragedy ever in the Mediterranean when more than eight hundred migrants headed for Europe died in a single incident last week:

Libya

MENASource

Apr 16, 2015

Washington Should Demand Accountability from Libya’s Beleaguered Parliament

By Asma Yousef Magariaf

With seven months left in its mandate, Libya’s House of Representatives (House) in Tobruk has sent a high-level delegation to Washington this week. Critics of the House continue to demand greater accountability from Libya’s parliament amid mounting concerns of incompetence and corruption as Libya faces a growing threat from the Islamic State (ISIS or ISIL) […]

Libya

MENASource

Apr 14, 2015

The UNSMIL Draft Agreement and International Engagement with Libya

By Azza K. Maghur

Since UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon nominated Mr. Bernardino Leon as the UN Special Representative and Head of the UN Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) in August 2014, stagnant Libyan waters have moved.

Libya

Experts