P r i n c e t o n U n i v e r s i t y | W o o d r o w W i l s o n S c h o o l | 15
CALIBRATING U.S. EFFORTS It is easy to conclude from the conditions
i) further deprioritizing political engagement
outlined above that Libya’s conflict has, in the
on Libya while maintaining focus on protecting
short term, reached a sustainable equilibrium.
critical security interests;
No single actor appears able to tip the balance. In reality, the status quo is unstable and does not serve U.S. long-term interests; localized fighting
between
militia
groups
often
ii) supporting (overtly or tacitly) Egyptian and Emirati efforts to achieve a military solution via Khalifa Haftar; or,
threatens the security of Libyan government
iii) a limited increase in U.S. engagement to
institutions (as in Tripoli in summer 2018) and
“move the dial” towards a negotiated political
vulnerable
settlement and longer-term stability.
oil
infrastructure,
while
also
allowing extremists space to operate. This section outlines current U.S. policy toward Libya, considers two often-debated alternative strategies, and proposes a third, more effective approach to advancing core U.S. objectives in Libya:
Below are the advantages and disadvantages of each approach, concluding that the third option offers the most realistic chance of advancing U.S. interests in both the shortand long-term.
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