Ominous Russian Military Moves Spark Fears Over NATO’s Southern Flank

News Snapshot:

Russia is diverting more resources to its newest Mediterranean hub as Moscow seeks to grow its influence and outcompete Western rivals in conflict-ravaged parts of North and West Africa, reports say. The independent Russian site Verstka, the All Eyes on Wagner project and the U.S.-funded media outlet Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty have reported that at least 1,800 Russian soldiers and mercenaries have been deployed to Libya in recent weeks, seemingly expanding a project years in the making. The burgeoning Russian outpost could prove a threat to "Europe's soft underbelly," which is already proving vulnerable to persistent migration flows. Moscow's influence...