The UAE’s involvement in the Libyan crisis is a crucial test for the strategic interests in Abu Dhabi, in one of the most important files concerning its future on the international stage, in order to impose itself among the major powers, especially the United States and China, and it sees the Libyan ports and wealth as a gateway to this.

The author, Emmanuele Rossi, says in a report published by the Italian magazine "Formeki" that the Libyan warlord Khalifa Haftar has two types of support, the first of which is secret from Russia and France, and the second is announced by Egypt and the UAE.

Although Cairo began to reduce the size of its support for the retired Libyan general, Abu Dhabi, in contrast, continues to provide him with technical and political support, and supports his campaign to control the capital, Tripoli.

The writer believes that because of this Emirati position, the military operation to control the Libyan capital is still continuing, despite the agreement of the international powers to the armistice and the holding of the Berlin conference, and the emphasis in this conference on the urgent need to stop external military support to the conflicting parties, and respect the United Nations resolution to prohibit sending weapons to Libya.

He pointed out that the UAE appears to be the real beneficiary of the Berlin conference, as it managed to impose acceptance of its presence in Libya at the international diplomatic level, and at the same time continues to push it at the military level.

The writer quotes Chenia Bianco, a researcher on European and Middle East affairs at the European Council on Foreign Relations, saying, "Of course, everyone reiterates that it is not possible to resolve the war in Libya on the military level, but Abu Dhabi does not agree with this opinion, and this means that it shares In the diplomatic movement without believing that the only political solution is possible. "

6111296317001 f4025f7a-2baa-4588-bd41-4c8e5915e5a5 234d218f-0507-4b71-8896-2dd81ec29ab6
video


Ports and fortunes
The writer adds that the UAE has many interests in the Libyan war, and the most important of which is the chain of seaports that it controls, within the framework of an Emirati strategy aimed at building a group of ports to become part of the belt and road project that China will complete.

The writer mentioned that the Emiratis wish to have the ability to play a pivotal role in the Chinese project, and to become an indispensable partner in the success of this initiative, especially since they consider that the future will be for this alliance, and they do not see the United States as the most influential force in the next. the years.

For this reason, it was not surprising that the Emiratis rushed to control the infrastructure of the port of Barqa in eastern Libya where Haftar forces are located, in order to harness it for civilian and military purposes.

In the North African region, the UAE is facing a difficulty in extending its control, because the incursion in Morocco, Mauritania and Tunisia is not possible in light of the political context hostile to Abu Dhabi, and here lies the importance of Libya, according to the author.

In fact, there is also another political goal that the UAE seeks to achieve, which is to pursue the Muslim Brotherhood, which is now based in Turkey, and since Libya is important to Ankara at the present time, Turkey has become the primary enemy of Abu Dhabi.

The writer also touched on the bet on natural resources, as Ankara moved closer to Tripoli in order to lay down a framework for activity in the eastern Mediterranean, in light of the geopolitical alliances in the region that are revolving around ensuring large energy stocks and hostility to Ankara.

Geologists emphasize that there is an important stock of energy off the Libyan coast, and Abu Dhabi is certainly interested in obtaining it, and Libya for them is a link between the Mediterranean and the Horn of Africa, where there are many UAE geopolitical interests.

The Yemen war
The writer gave another example related to this Emirati policy, related to the war in Yemen, as the Emiratis focus mainly on the southern region, in which there are coasts in which they build seaports for the passage of oil resources across land, bypassing the Strait of Hormuz and Iranian threats.

In this context, the writer explained the importance of Socotra Island off the Horn of Africa, which is currently under Emirati control, because of its important location in the chain of ports of Abu Dhabi and to secure maritime navigation.

And talking about the Emirates necessarily leads to talking about the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and the question about whether there is an overlap between the two countries strategy.

The author concludes: In fact there are some contradictions between them, but in general there is harmony between the vision of Abu Dhabi and Riyadh, as they agree on the idea of ​​controlling ports and alliances with the Chinese project, just as they agree that in light of the United States' retreat from its commitment and interference in the Middle East, There is room for them to expand their influence before Turkey does so.