Libya commander Haftar seeks to force international engagement
TUNIS: Libya's eastern authorities recently expelled a senior European delegation in a move analysts say was meant to send a message: the unrecognised administration backed by military leader Khalifa Haftar cannot be ignored.
On July 8, an EU commissioner and ministers from Greece, Italy and Malta were in Libya to discuss irregular migration from the North African country.
Their visit was divided in two, as is Libya, which is still grappling with the aftermath of the armed conflict and political chaos that followed the 2011 Nato-backed uprising that toppled long time dictator Moamer Kadhafi.
The delegation first visited the capital Tripoli, seat of the internationally recognised Libyan government of Prime Minister Abdelhamid Dbeibah.
They then travelled to Benghazi, in the east, where a rival administration backed by Haftar and his clan is based, and with whom the EU has generally avoided direct contact.
Almost immediately, a reported disagreement prompted the eastern authorities to accuse the European delegation of a "flagrant breach of diplomatic norms", ordering the visiting dignitaries to leave.
In Brussels, the European commission admitted a "protocol issue".
by Taboola
by Taboola
Sponsored Links
Sponsored Links
Promoted Links
Promoted Links
You May Like
Your Finger Shape Says a Lot About Your Personality, Read Now
Tips and Tricks
Undo
Tarek Megerisi, a senior policy fellow at the European council on foreign relations think tank, said the scene at the airport "was a calculated move".
Haftar was playing to EU fears of irregular migration in order "to generate de facto European recognition", and thus "broaden relations with Europe away from just engagement with him as a local military leader".
Turning the delegation away showed that declining to engage with the eastern civilian administration was no longer an option.
'Punish Athens'
The complex situation in Libya has required unusual diplomacy.
European governments recognise and work with the Tripoli-based government and not the eastern administration, but still hold contact with Haftar's military forces.
In their visit earlier this month, the European commissioner and ministers were meant to meet with eastern military officials.
But once at the Benghazi airport, they saw "there were people there that we had not agreed to meet", a European official in Brussels told journalists on condition of anonymity.
"We had to fly back," the official said, adding that "of course" it was linked to recognition of the eastern government.
Claudia Gazzini, a Libya expert at the International Crisis Group, said she did not believe "it was a premeditated incident".
But "the question does present itself as to why" ministers from the eastern government were at the airport in the first place, and why Haftar would let it play out the way it did, she said.
"We can't completely rule out that there was some particular issue or bilateral disagreement with one of the countries represented in the delegation," Gazzini added.
Libya expert Jalel Harchaoui suggested Greece may have been the target.
On July 6, two days before the axed visit, "the Greek foreign minister had come to demand concessions on migration and maritime (issues) without offering any tangible incentives", Harchaoui said.
Despite Haftar's personal involvement, the July 6 visit "had yielded nothing", added the expert.
Then, on July 8, "a Greek representative -- this time as part of an EU delegation -- wanted to negotiate on the same day with the rival Tripoli government, placing the two governments on an equal footing", he said.
This was "an affront in Benghazi's view", Harchaoui said, and the administration wanted to "punish Athens".
Legitimacy
To Harchaoui, the diplomatic flap was a sign not to "underestimate" the Haftars' foreign policy.
"The Haftar family is an absolutely essential actor" in tackling the influx of migrants or, for example, advancing energy projects, due to its key role in securing Libya's eastern coast, said Harchaoui.
The message delivered at the Benghazi airport "is clear: take the eastern faction seriously", he added.
Harchaoui said that the Haftars, already "rich in cash and strong" in terms of strategic assets, have recently increased efforts to "consolidate their legitimacy".
Haftar himself was hosted in February by French President Emmanuel Macron, and in May by Russia's Vladimir Putin.
And Haftar's son, Saddam, recently visited the United States, Turkey, Italy and Niger.
Even Ankara, which has provided support for the Tripoli-based government in repelling attacks from the east, "is now seeking to further profit off the Haftars through things like construction projects", said Megerisi.
He added that Turkey also has wider geopolitical ambitions, hoping to see the Haftars endorse a maritime border agreement in the eastern Mediterranean, which Tripoli had already signed but Athens regards as illegal.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
&w=3840&q=100)
Business Standard
a few seconds ago
- Business Standard
1.3 million migrants in UK live off govt money: Why leaders want it stopped
Reform UK leader Nigel Farage wants the UK government to end all financial support for migrants, including Indians. In a video posted on X, formerly Twitter, he said, 'There are 1.3 million migrants in Britain on Universal Credit and over half of them don't do any work at all.' What is Universal credit? Universal Credit is a payment for people under State Pension age and on a low income or out of work. It includes support for the cost of housing, children and childcare, and financial support for people with disabilities, carers and people too ill to work. 'Immigration is not fine' Farage's comments came after the UK government, for the first time, published data from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) on July 15, 2025, revealing the immigration status of those receiving Universal Credit. According to the figures, 1.3 million foreign nationals living in the UK are currently claiming the benefit. 'The latest data goes completely against the lie we've been told for 25 years that immigration is fine because everyone's working and everyone's contributing,' said Farage. He claimed that supporting migrants on Universal Credit costs the UK £12 billion a year and argued that scrapping these benefits could help fund his party's economic plans. Farage also criticised both major parties, saying: 'Some of this has happened since Labour came to power but nearly all of it happened during 14 years of Conservative government.' What data shows as of June 2025 While the number of Indians receiving Universal Credit is not separately disclosed, many are likely represented within the EU Settlement Scheme and Indefinite Leave to Remain categories, which together cover a broad share of long-settled migrants. Migrants make up about 1 in 6 Universal Credit recipients Of the 7.9 million people on Universal Credit (UC) in June 2025, 16.4 per cent were not UK or Irish citizens. That's roughly 1.3 million people, who were on visas, had refugee status, or were covered under the EU Settlement Scheme. This group includes: EU Settlement Scheme: 9.7 per cent (770,000 people) Indefinite Leave to Remain (not EUSS): 2.7 per cent Refugees: 1.5 per cent Limited Leave to Remain (e.g. family reunion): 1.0 per cent Humanitarian protection schemes (Afghan, Ukraine): 0.7 per cent Other/Unrecorded: 0.8 per cent The remaining 83.6 per cent of UC recipients are UK or Irish nationals or have right of abode. Of these, 99.8 per cent are UK citizens. Most EU citizens on UC are working Among migrant groups, those under the EU Settlement Scheme had the highest employment rate — 47.1 per cent were in jobs. That compares to: < 34 per cent overall employment rate across all UC recipients < 33 per cent among UK/Irish nationals < 22 per cent among refugees This suggests many EU citizens are in work but on low pay, qualifying them for top-up support via UC. Refugees and other protected groups form a small slice Despite public focus, only 1.5 per cent of UC claimants were recognised refugees and 0.7 per cent were from humanitarian protection schemes. That's roughly 175,000 people in total. Ethnicity mix shows some skew toward migrants Ethnic minority groups, which include both migrants and UK-born minorities, make up just under a quarter of UC claimants: White: 76.4 per cent Asian/Asian British: 10.3 per cent Black/African/Caribbean/Black British: 6.0 per cent Other and Mixed ethnicities: 7.3 per cent The Asian group saw a slight increase year-on-year, from 10.0 per cent to 10.3 per cent. Who is not expected to work? About 42 per cent of all UC recipients are categorised under 'no work requirements', which includes those too ill to work, carers, or older adults. This group has grown sharply in recent years, and many are former recipients of legacy health-related benefits like ESA. Universal Credit and children Among the 6.4 million UC households, half had dependent children. The average monthly UC payment in March 2025 was £1,010, but this varied by family type, with single adults without children receiving the lowest average (£740). The release triggered sharp political responses from others too, urging a review of eligibility rules for non-citizens. 'These statistics demonstrate the extreme dysfunction of both the immigration system and Britain's welfare policies,' said Conservative MP Nick Timothy. 'Benefits should only be available to citizens and even then only to those who truly need the help. If that means many low-income migrants leave the country, that will be a good thing for us.' The data also intensified pressure on the current Labour government. Chris Philp, Conservative Shadow Home Secretary, said: 'These are staggering figures and are clear proof that the Labour government has lost control of our welfare system.' He added: 'We're calling on Keir Starmer to stop the drift and take action. British taxpayers should not be working hard to subsidise immigrants, many of whom have only recently arrived.' Philp said the Conservatives, under Kemi Badenoch's leadership, supported restricting Universal Credit access to citizens only. 'This is about fairness, responsibility and protecting support for those who've contributed to this country,' he said. UK immigration White Paper proposes tougher rules for workers, students and asylum seekers The release of Universal Credit figures in July follows the UK government's immigration White Paper, published in June, which sets out a series of proposals to reduce overall migration numbers and cut down the use of public resources by asylum seekers and temporary migrants. The paper outlines changes across work, study and settlement routes and is part of a broader push to overhaul the current system. Ministers say the reforms are intended to 'rebalance' migration and restore public trust in the immigration system. The proposals include: * Doubling the qualifying period for settlement (indefinite leave to remain) from five to ten years * Extending English language requirements to cover a wider group of applicants, including dependants * Cutting the Graduate Route post-study visa from two years to 18 months * Raising salary thresholds for skilled worker visas * Ending the Health and Care Worker visa for new applicants, while introducing new sponsorship obligations for employers in the sector The White Paper also calls for stricter controls on asylum applications, including new triage and fast-track procedures for claimants from countries deemed to be generally safe. According to officials, the government is examining the possibility of housing asylum seekers in offshore processing centres or repurposed facilities as part of efforts to reduce the cost of hotel accommodation. The Home Office has said the current approach is unsustainable and that too many asylum seekers are being granted access to public funds before decisions are made on their status.
Hindustan Times
a few seconds ago
- Hindustan Times
France's top general says Russia could attack in five years
RUSSIA IS REARMING fast enough to be a 'real threat' to Europe within five years, says General Thierry Burkhard. That is towards the low end of the estimates among his military and intelligence peers. By 2030, he tells The Economist, 'Russia will possess the means once again to pose a military threat to Western countries, and European countries in particular.' After four years heading France's armed forces, General Burkhard will leave his post on September 1st. In 2021, before Russia invaded Ukraine, he told this newspaper that Europe had to prepare for high-intensity war. Today he warns that Russia's combat experience, huge mass and capacity for endurance make it dangerous: in a conflict, the Russian people will last 'five minutes longer than us'. Yet there are reasons for optimism. General Burkhard thinks American armed forces will not leave Europe, though they might reduce their presence. And a growing web of bilateral ties, above all between Britain, France and Germany (whose leaders have met in recent weeks), points to a tangible vision of 'what the European pillar of NATO can be.' In the past few years NATO allies have begun to spell out regional-defence plans: what forces are needed, who will provide them and where they will fight. Almost no European allies meet the targets, and American retrenchment would widen the gap. Some, he warns, might use this as an excuse to argue that if 'we don't have all that [materiel], we're not able to do it'. Europe, General Burkhard says, cannot emulate America's 'industrial and mechanical' approach to war, which seeks to overmatch enemies 'to reduce the risk to almost nothing.' European armies will have to do more with less 'by taking more risks, by being more manoeuvrable.' Should American officers at NATO headquarters leave, they need not be replaced on a like-for-like basis. Europeans could 'figure out how to create a new command structure with the officers [they] have left.' European armed forces will also have to adapt to changes in warfare. Battlefields in Ukraine are unprecedentedly transparent: combatants can 'see behind each bush'. From this he draws two lessons. One is the changing economics of lethality. High-tech weapons remain crucial—in July France said it was resuming production of SCALP cruise missiles after a 15-year pause—but cheap munitions are needed to wear out the enemy. 'You need Ferraris from time to time,' says General Burkhard. 'We won't win the war with Ferraris.' The second is that tactics and organisation are as important as technology. In 1940 all European armies had tanks, artillery and planes, but it was Germany that integrated them. 'Today everyone has drones,' he says. Victory will go to armies that combine them on land, air and sea. Then there is nuclear deterrence. Emmanuel Macron, France's president, said earlier this year that he wants to discuss 'protection by our deterrent' with European allies. On July 10th France and Britain, Europe's two nuclear powers, agreed to deepen co-ordination, stating that any 'extreme threat to Europe' would prompt a joint response. The countries' nuclear forces will stay independent. There are already means to 'deconflict' their submarine patrols, General Burkhard says. The prospect of a joint nuclear strike would require a new level of planning. France's nuclear force, unlike Britain's, is not assigned to NATO. The two countries are setting up a joint nuclear steering group. No general would ever lay out explicitly how they will handle any scenario; the point, he says, is 'when a crisis see what the threats are and what you need to be ready to do.' Germany and other European allies are asking what all this means for them. On July 13th Mr Macron asked General Burkhard and Sébastien Lecornu, the defence minister, to start a strategic dialogue with European partners about the role of France's deterrent. 'France cannot fight alone against Russia,' says the general. If it is someday threatened by Russia, 'it is not a matter of conventional weapons, it is a matter of nuclear deterrence.' To stay on top of the biggest European stories, sign up to Café Europa, our weekly subscriber-only newsletter.
Time of India
9 minutes ago
- Time of India
'A head of state so volatile': Ex-PM Deve Gowda's scathing attack on Trump; praises PM Modi's 'firm stand'
Former PM HD Deve Gowda (PTI image) and US President Donald Trump (AP image) NEW DELHI: Former Prime Minister HD Deve Gowda has strongly criticized US President Donald Trump over his recent comments describing India's economy as 'dead.' In a sharp statement issued on Friday, Gowda said Trump's remarks were "baseless and ill-tempered" and praised Prime Minister Narendra Modi for standing firm in the face of US pressure and for not compromising the nation's interests. Calling Trump 'a head of state so volatile, uncivil and irresponsible,' Gowda said even a small trader or poor farmer in India, who works with dignity and integrity, could teach the US President a lesson in conduct. "There is something fundamentally wrong with him which reason, diplomacy or statecraft cannot diagnose and address", the senior leader said. He added that "It may not be correct to say anything more than this on his ill-tempered nature because it would mean lowering our own standards." The former PM hailed India's democratic and sovereign character, stating that the country has always acted in its national interest. He expressed confidence in India's ability to withstand international pressure and said he was proud of PM Modi for not being threatened by Trump's bullying. "I am very happy and proud that India, under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi has not compromised our national interest. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Adam Lambert, 43, Takes off His Makeup and Leaves Us Without Words The Noodle Box Undo It has not blinked to Mr. Trump's bullying and has shown that it will never be dictated by threat," the statement read. Gowda also defended India's economic performance, noting that it remains one of the fastest growing economies in the world and currently ranks fifth globally. Responding to Trump's 'dead economy' jibe, he said the US President was either 'blind or ill-informed." He further warned some Indian opposition leaders who echoed Trump's statements, urging them not to act as 'deluded spokespersons' of the US President. Gowda's statement came after Trump imposed a 25% tariff on all Indian goods starting August 1, following a breakdown in interim trade negotiations between the two countries. In his Truth Social post, Trump also said that India and Russia could 'take their dead economies down together,' sparking strong reactions.
