The shift in US foreign policy towards the Libyan crisis after 2011

Abstract

After 2011, US foreign policy towards Libya underwent a radical shift from direct military intervention to overthrow the regime to a "leading from behind" strategy characterized by extreme caution and reliance on regional roles and the UN mission. Following the killing of the US ambassador in Benghazi in 2012, the momentum slowed, and Washington focused its efforts on combating terrorism while avoiding deep involvement in the details of the conflict. With the escalation of international interventions, the US administration later moved towards active diplomacy to support the electoral process and unify sovereign institutions with the aim of preventing Russian influence from becoming entrenched and ensuring the stability of energy flows. This shift reflects a wavering between the desire to establish a democratic system and a political realism that prioritizes national security and the global balance of power, making the US role a major driver but not a decisive one in resolving the Libyan crisis.