Russia and Iran: "Libyan fighters in the Nagorno Karabakh conflict," Washington prepares to strike Moscow in Libya

 Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and his Iranian counterpart, Muhammad Javad Zarif, expressed their concern about "The participation of Syrian and Libyan fighters in the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict."

It is the first time that anyone has spoken of Libyan fighters in the renewed violence in the Caucasus until now, there have been numerous reports about the participation of Syrian mercenaries alongside Azerbaijan, supported by Recep Tayyip Erdogan's Turkey. While the French president, Emmanuel Macron, has accused Ankara of sending Syrian rebels and jihadists to Azerbaijan, now Tehran and Moscow speak in a statement of "Libyan fighters" in the region.

But Iran and Russia should worry about something else. The United States is preparing to teach Putin a lesson in North Africa. The Pentagon is stepping up its intervention in the Maghreb region, under the pretext of stepping up the fight against extremism and terrorism.

US Defense Secretary Mark Esper visited Tunisia, then Algeria and Morocco on October 30, officially to discuss ways to strengthen cooperation against extremist organizations, but actually to evaluate possible roles for neighbors. Libya, after the leader of the US military command in Africa (AFRICOM), General Stephen Townsend, led the way during his meeting in September with Tunisian and Algerian presidents Qais Saeed and Abdel Majid Tebboune.

Why is the US focusing its efforts on North Africa?

The United States has repeatedly defined Russian and Chinese policies as "harmful" and aggravating regional instability on the African continent, about the ongoing Libyan crisis and the outbreak of the conflict in Mali. Washington fears losing its influence and feels damaged by the increase in the Russian presence.

The United States and its European allies are reluctant to see Russia's presence in Libya. The Kremlin has in fact strengthened its presence in 31 sites between Brak al-Shati and Sabha in southern Libya. A presence that has no more reason to exist if one believes in the dialogue process facilitated by the United Nations.

Washington accused Russia first of moving its officers and mercenaries from the Wagner group to Libya in support of Khalifa Haftar's Libyan National Army. Then of moving eight jet fighters from Syria to Libya, and finally of recruiting pro-Assad Syrian mercenaries to do the dirty work in Jufra in place of the Russian military.

The United States does not accept that Moscow could have a military base in Libya, a target for years pursued by the Pentagon which does not have its own field but collaborates with the Government of National Accord in the anti-terrorism operations conducted by Africom.

On October 5, Berlin will host a virtual meeting of the countries involved in the Libyan dossier. Participants, including Russia and the United States, will discuss the next steps of the United Nations process and probably also the necessary actions to facilitate the negotiates between Libyan parties, avoiding an escalation that could lead to direct confrontation between Russia and the United States.