All meetings of the head of the CIA in Libya
In recent days William Burns, director of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) of the United States, was in the capital Tripoli for discussions with senior Libyan officials.
The current Libyan government announced on Thursday that William Burns, director of the US Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), was in the capital Tripoli for discussions with senior Libyan officials. By visiting Tripoli, Burns became the most senior US government official to travel to the North African country under the presidency of Joe Biden.
WHO MET THE CIA DIRECTOR IN TRIPOLI
According to Libyan media reports, Burns spent most of Thursday in Tripoli, where he met with Abdul Hamid Dbeibah, a controversial businessman who is serving as prime minister in the national unity government (GNU). Burns also met with GNU Foreign Minister Najla al-Mangoush, as well as Hussein al-Ayeb, who heads the GNU intelligence agency.
INTERVIEW WITH HAFTAR
The CIA director also met with Field Marshal Khalifa Haftar, head of the Libyan National Army (LNA). The LNA nominally supports the GNU's rival government in eastern Libya, the Government of National Stability (GNS). However, Haftar is seen by many as Libya's de facto strongman. “Notably, Burns did not meet Fathi Bashagha, the self-styled “”prime minister”” of the GNS, which, unlike the GNU, is not recognized by the United Nations but is supported by a number of regional powers, including member of NATO Turkey.”
THE DOSSIERS ON THE TABLE
Al-Monitor reported that the topic of GNU's relationship with Russia was high on the agenda during Burns' visit, as was the topic of Libya's energy exports to Europe. Counter-terrorism was also discussed, which is not surprising given that the GNU handed over Abu Agila Mohammad Mas'ud Kheir Al-Marimi to US authorities last month. Washington claims Al-Marimi was involved in the 1988 shooting down of Pan Am Flight 103 over Lockerbie, Scotland, which was conceived and plotted by the regime of the late Colonel Moammar al-Gadhafi. The move was seen as an attempt by the GNU to strengthen relations with Washington, in light of the challenge it faces from the GNS and the LNA.
This is a machine translation from Italian language of a post published on Start Magazine at the URL https://www.startmag.it/mondo/tutti-gli-incontri-del-capo-della-cia-in-libia/ on Sun, 15 Jan 2023 07:21:01 +0000.