Description
After the outbreak of Arab uprisings, Libya was the first country to experience foreign military intervention. The NATO-led military intervention in 2011, which initially started as a campaign to protect civilians, escalated into an operation aimed at regime change. Giving a green light to this operation by abstaining from the UN Security Council, Russia’s initial reaction to the developments in Libya followed a conciliatory approach. This stance evolved into a more assertive, multi-faceted policy, characterised by an increased military presence, the hosting of peace talks in Moscow, and direct engagement with both local and international stakeholders in the conflict. Covering the period between the NATO operation in 2011 and the ceasefire in 2020, this study explicates the change in Russia’s role in Libya by using role theory. It examines how Russia relocated its roles in the Libyan conflict influenced by its socialisation with the West: from the hopeful 'reset' policy to the intensifying rivalry.
