US President Joe Biden decided to extend the state of emergency in Libya for another year, beyond February 25, 2025, and to refer the notice of extension to the US Congress.
According to the White House, Biden stated in his letter to Congress that lifting the applicable sanctions threatens military escalation in Libya, and that the situation there still poses a major threat to the national security and foreign policy of the United States.
Biden added in his letter that he called those who rejected dialogue and obstructed the democratic transition were still interested in exploiting the wealth of the Libyan people to advance their narrow interests and perpetuate the conflict in the country.
He further indicated that many of these contentions are related to access to resources, adding that there will remain a serious risk if Libyan state assets are not protected as they will be embezzled by parties determined to undermine the ongoing UN peace process.
The US President also indicated that diverting these resources could prolong and deepen the current instability in Libya, which would benefit ISIS and other “terrorist groups” that pose a serious threat to the national security of the United States and the security of US regional partners.
