As instability in Libya continues to simmer, many entities are seeking to take advantage of the country’s ongoing factional tensions. Extremists and other terrorist cells are using the country as a base of operations, and there is concern that the collapse of the Islamic State in Syria is leading many jihadist fighters to seek refuge in Libya. Furthermore, foreign powers such as Russia and China are also looking to increase their influence in the region. Russia in particular is seeking to build stronger military and economic ties to Libya, which would give the country a stronger military presence in the Mediterranean region. This would place further strategic pressure on Europe and be a natural continuation of Russian efforts to use hard power to advance their international influence.
