Russia's role in trafficking, smuggling from Libya to EU

Following the fall of Bashar Assad in Syria, Russia has shifted its strategic focus to Libya, considering it a 'safe space' in the Mediterranean to maintain a military presence and commercial interests. Russian military shipments and mercenary support, notably via the former Wagner Group now rebranded as 'Africa Corps,' back Khalifa Haftar's Libyan National Army controlling eastern Libya. Russia's influence is amplified through Saddam Haftar, who controls military bases and coastguard units facilitating smuggling operations. Migrants, mainly from Asia and Africa, are trafficked via eastern Libya. Migrants are detained in harsh conditions by Haftar's forces, paying substantial fees for passage via boats to Europe. This network also traffics weapons, drugs, and fuel across Libyan political divides. Analysts assert the Kremlin has weaponized migration to pressure Europe, drawing parallels to earlier migration flights from Syria to Belarus. Combatting this smuggling requires offering safe legal migration routes to reduce reliance on traffickers.