Libya

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.

Featured commentary & analysis

The Arab Awakening: Progress or Peril?

MENASource
Jul 1, 2026

Libya doesn’t need another elite bargain

By
Karim Mezran

The US blessing of a power-sharing arrangement for Libya preserves a fragile stability today while increasing the risk of a much larger crisis tomorrow.

Libya
Political Reform

The Arab Awakening: Progress or Peril?

MENASource
May 26, 2026

An oil windfall will not fix Libya’s economy

By
Ahmed Shalghoum and Frank Talbot

Libya’s new unified budget needs transparency, accountability, and oversight to deliver for the people.

Economy & Business
Libya

The Arab Awakening: Progress or Peril?

MENASource
May 15, 2026

The problem with the US power-sharing plan for Libya

By
Karim Mezran, Dario Cristiani

The nascent US initiative may succeed in reducing tensions and creating a slightly more predictable environment for foreign businesses, but a structural transformation remains out of reach.

Corruption
Libya

Programs

Perspectives on North Africa

The North Africa Initiative at the Atlantic Council’s Rafik Hariri Center for the Middle East analyzes the strategic, political, and economic importance of the region for the United States and its allies. Since the 2011 Arab Spring uprisings, North Africa has undergone political and economic transformations that have impacted stability and security in the region. With its geographic crossroad between Europe, Africa, and the Middle East, North Africa continues to be an integral partner in addressing shared interests and concerns.

Learn more about the Middle East programs

Middle East Programs

Working with our allies and partners in Europe and the wider Middle East to protect US interests, build peace and security, and unlock the human potential of the region.

EXPLORE THE ATLANTIC COUNCIL’S MIDDLE EAST PROGRAMS

Content

Event Recap

May 3, 2012

The Arab Awakening: Progress or Peril?

By Jason Harmala

On May 4, the Rafik Hariri Center for the Middle East and Wilson Center co-hosted the first Rafik Hariri Debate on the Arab Transitions with Egyptian parliamentarian Amr Hamzawy and former Congresswoman Jane Harman to explore the question of where Egypt and other transitioning Arab countries are headed. Hariri Center Director Michele Dunne moderated the […]

Libya North Africa

Event Recap

Apr 24, 2012

Roundtable Discussion with new US Ambassador to Libya Chris Stevens

By Jason Harmala

The Hariri Center for the Middle East hosted a briefing on April 24 for the newly-confirmed US Ambassador to Libya Chris Stevens with prominent Libyan-Americans and representatives from non-governmental organizations with operational programs in Libya.

Libya

New Atlanticist

Apr 4, 2012

Scowcroft: NATO Future as UN Security Force

By James Joyner

General Brent Scowcroft argues that NATO’s Libya intervention may point to the future of the military alliance as the go-to enforcer of UN Security Council resolutions.

International Organizations Libya

New Atlanticist

Apr 4, 2012

The Ripple Effect of the Arab Spring and Weapon Proliferation

By Joanna Buckley

The Arab Awakening has advanced democracy through the Middle East and North Africa but the ripple effects created by the leak of military weaponry into surrounding unstable and conflict areas pose long-term national and regional security implications.  This should be a critical factor for the international community when weighing potential intervention.

Libya Syria

New Atlanticist

Mar 19, 2012

To Stabilize Libya, Transatlantic Political Engagement Needed

By Alec Simantov

The setbacks to Libya’s internal security and stability are worsening in the run up to scheduled June elections.

Libya

Event Recap

Mar 16, 2012

Task Force on Security Cooperation with the Transitioning Arab Democracies Meeting

By Adrienne Chuck

The Rafik Hariri Center for the Middle East and International Security Program launched a joint initiative on March 16 with the first meeting of the Task Force on Security Cooperation with the Transitioning Arab Democracies.

Libya North Africa

New Atlanticist

Mar 15, 2012

The Tragedy of All or Nothing Interventions

By Bernard Finel

Dan Trombly has a chacteristically thoughtful post on lessons we’ve learned (or not learned) from recent interventions. In it, he writes:

Libya Syria

Event Recap

Mar 9, 2012

Discussion with Libyan Foreign Ministry Spokesman Saad al-Shalmani

By Jason Harmala

During a discussion hosted by the Rafik Hariri Center for the Middle East on March 9, participants from the US government, think tanks, and the Libyan American community raised concerns about how the Libyan government will incorporate armed fighters, particularly before elections scheduled for June.

Libya
Economic conditions in transitioning countries

Event Recap

Mar 2, 2012

Roundtable on Economic Conditions in Transitioning Countries and US Trade and Investment Initiatives

By Jason Harmala

The Rafik Hariri Center for the Middle East hosted an off-the-record roundtable discussion with a small group of US government officials, economists, and development experts on March 2.

Libya North Africa

New Atlanticist

Feb 29, 2012

Libya: the Transition Clock

By Julian Lindley-French

PRISM, the Journal for the Center for Complex Operations at the National Defense University in Washington, has just published a significant article of mine entitled, “Libya: The Transition Clock.”

European Union International Organizations
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Experts

Fellow

Brian O’Toole

Nonresident Senior Fellow

Economic Statecraft Initiative GeoEconomics Center

Cuba Economy & Business

Fellow

Frank Talbot

Nonresident Senior Fellow, North Africa Program

Rafik Hariri Center & Middle East programs

Economy & Business English