BENGHAZI: A recent visit by Team Europe (EU) to Libya has drawn attention not only to the continent’s mounting migration crisis, but also to the complex web of rival powers now entangled in the country’s fractured political landscape. The EU delegation, including high-level representatives from Italy, Greece, and Malta, arrived in Tripoli and Benghazi with a clear mission: to renew cooperation with Libyan authorities and curb the increasing number of migrant departures from North Africa to Europe. But behind the scenes, growing Russian, Syrian, and Turkish influence is shifting the ground beneath European diplomacy.
In recent months, migrant arrivals on European shores—especially in Italy and Greece—have surged sharply. Italy alone has recorded over 8,000 landings in the first half of 2025, marking a nearly 40 percent increase from the same period last year. Many of these crossings originate from Libya, where traffickers continue to exploit the country’s chaotic political environment and porous borders. The EU has long relied on deals with the Libyan coast guard and local militias to manage the flow, but this approach is increasingly under strain.
Libya today is a fragmented arena where foreign powers jostle for influence. Russia has entrenched itself further in eastern Libya through private military contractors, infrastructure deals, and direct support to the forces of Khalifa Haftar, who dominates Benghazi and much of the country’s east. Moscow’s role is not merely tactical—it aims to secure a permanent strategic foothold on the southern Mediterranean.
Meanwhile, Turkish involvement in western Libya remains strong, particularly around Tripoli. Ankara backs the UN-recognized government and has provided military support, drones, and technical assistance, effectively turning parts of the Libyan coast into an extension of its geopolitical interests in the eastern Mediterranean. In parallel, remnants of Syrian regime forces and their affiliates, supported by the Assad government, have reportedly resurfaced in certain areas, adding to the volatility.
During the EU visit, tensions surfaced. In Benghazi, local authorities signaled their displeasure by reportedly declaring parts of the European delegation persona non grata. While no formal diplomatic fallout has followed, the move reflects frustration over what some Libyan factions see as Europe’s narrow focus on migration at the expense of real political engagement.
For the EU, the challenge is twofold. It must address the humanitarian crisis posed by irregular migration while navigating a Libyan political landscape increasingly shaped by non-Western actors. At the same time, efforts to formalize cooperation with Tripoli or Benghazi are constrained by concerns over human rights abuses, particularly in detention centers controlled by militias or loosely supervised by government forces.
With elections in Libya continually postponed and its institutions divided, Europe faces diminishing leverage in a country it once viewed as a partner for border control. The rise of Russian and Turkish influence, compounded by ongoing instability and a steady flow of migrants, raises serious questions about the long-term viability of EU policy in the region. As migrants continue to risk their lives crossing the Mediterranean, the deeper crisis may be Europe’s inability to reshape its approach in a region increasingly outside its influence.
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