US-Russian Rivalry in Libya (2011–2025): Motives for International Polarization and its Impact on Internationalizing and Prolonging the Crisis

Abstract

Since 2011, Libya has witnessed a complex political conflict that coincided with the escalation of international competition between the United States and Russia. This research aims to analyze the impact of this competition on complicating and prolonging the Libyan conflict, by examining the motives of both Washington and Moscow and the nature of their interventions. The research adopted a case study methodology and foreign policy analysis, while tracking the processes. The results showed that Libya's geostrategic location made it an open arena for the intersection of international interests, and that although the Libyan conflict has internal roots, the American-Russian competition contributed directly to its complexity. It also showed that American policy was characterized by limited engagement without a clear vision for a settlement, while the Russian intervention was more effective on the ground and reinforced the logic of resolving the conflict by force. The research concluded that this indirect competition turned the Libyan conflict into a proxy war, prolonged it, and made it hostage to external balances.