Local and regional actors: mapping forces and their influence in shaping Libyan foreign policy

Abstract

This study analyzes how multiple local, and regional actors have shaped Libya’s foreign policy from 2011 to 2025. The collapse of centralized authority and institutional fragmentation produced a fractured external decision-making process, with parallel governments, military entities, tribes, and militias competing for international representation, resulting in conflicting diplomatic narratives and contested legitimacy. Regionally, interventions by Egypt, the UAE, Turkey, and Qatar deepened domestic divisions through political, military, and media support to rival factions, while international involvement by Russia, France, the United States, and UN missions internationalized the crisis without delivering a comprehensive solution. The study concludes that Libya’s foreign policy has mirrored internal conflicts and regional alignments. It recommends unifying sovereign institutions, crafting a national, independent foreign strategy, building a professional diplomatic corps, strengthening constitutional oversight, and activating strategic research and societal dialogue to restore sovereign decision-making.