Leaked documents reveal Russia’s use of its ghost fleet to send military equipment to Libya’s Khalifa Haftar, raising concerns about the Kremlin’s influence in the region. Operation Irini, the EU’s naval mission, noted the manipulative tactics of these vessels to avoid detection while delivering military supplies, amidst growing fears of instability and migration issues affecting Europe.
Recent revelations indicate that Russia has been utilizing its so-called “ghost fleet,” comprised of numerous aging commercial ships with obscured ownership, to deliver military supplies to Libya’s Khalifa Haftar. For instance, the Cameroonian-flagged cargo ship, Barbaros, was documented traveling from Russia to a port in eastern Libya, where Haftar holds power, despite U.N. investigations into his forces for human rights violations.
Maritime consultant Yörük Işık spotted the Barbaros as it navigated through the Bosphorus, noting its suspicious cargo of military-appropriate trucks produced by a company facing sanctions. Following these findings, a European naval mission, Operation Irini, which aims to enforce the arms embargo on Libya, initiated investigations into the vessel’s activities, revealing the ship’s attempts to evade detection.
European authorities became increasingly concerned with Russia’s influence in Libya as further leakage from Operation Irini highlighted various tactics used by the ghost fleet. These include manipulating their Automatic Identification System (AIS) to disguise movements and locations, ultimately allowing the transport of military equipment into the conflict-ridden nation.
On May 1, 2024, Operation Irini boarded the Barbaros, discovering 115 Russian-made trucks, which, although militarily useful, were not modified for combat and did not breach the arms embargo. This incident, however, raised alarms about the ongoing militarization of Libya by Russia and the implications for regional stability.
For nearly a decade, Russia has been a crucial ally for Haftar, providing not just military equipment but also financial support, deepening its strategic interests in Libya, crucial for controlling migration routes and regional operations. Despite reports of human rights abuses against Haftar’s forces, Western nations remain engaged with him.
The growing Russian presence in Libya, marked by increased military shipments and strategic partnerships, has raised alarms in Europe. European officials noted the formalization of military interactions, with a significant rise in Russian flights to Libya observed in 2024, indicating a direct control over operations influencing the Mediterranean and Africa.
Russia’s maneuvers are not unique, as other nations like Turkey have similarly employed ghost ships to support allies in Libya. Nevertheless, the upcoming withdrawal of support from Syria has spurred Russia towards further engagement in Libya, emphasizing its regional ambitions.
Libya poses an immediate threat to European security due to interlinked issues of migration and ongoing instability. As articulated by Anas El Gomati from the Sadeq Institute, Russia’s military developments in Libya could destabilize the region and threaten NATO’s southern flank, underscoring the gravity of international response to these developments.
The evidence presented indicates that Russia is leveraging its ghost fleet to facilitate military support for Khalifa Haftar in Libya, in violation of international arms embargoes. This strategic alliance enhances Russia’s influence in North Africa while simultaneously posing significant risks to European security due to migration routes and broader geopolitical implications. The need for Western nations to reassess their stance and response to this situation is paramount to counteract Russia’s growing footprint in the region.
Original Source: www.icij.org
