Russian Envoy: NATO Likely Preparing Ground Invasion in Libya

Amid Escalations, Speculation Some Member Nations Will Invade

Speaking today to a Russian media outlet, Russian ambassador to NATO Dmitry Rogozin said he believes that NATO, or at least some of its members, are laying the groundwork for a fullscale ground invasion of Libya.

Rogozin’s comments came in the wake of repeatedly complaints about the repeated escalation of the war by NATO member nations, particularly France, and included a call for France to explain how it felt dropping weapons into Libya did not violate UN Security Resolution 1970.

NATO officials have repeatedly denied a plan to invade the nation, which is explicitly forbidden by the UN resolution they are using as a pretext for the war. They have, however, suggested they would be open to a post-Gadhafi occupation force.

But some NATO troops have already been caught on camera violating the ban, and as what was presented as a quick air war descends into a long-term stalemate expected to last months, France and Britain in particular seem keen to escalate the war in hopes that it will provide a solution. At this point, few escalatory options exist other than a ground invasion.

Author: Jason Ditz

Jason Ditz is Senior Editor for Antiwar.com. He has 20 years of experience in foreign policy research and his work has appeared in The American Conservative, Responsible Statecraft, Forbes, Toronto Star, Minneapolis Star-Tribune, Providence Journal, Washington Times, and the Detroit Free Press.