UNIVERSITY OF NIGERIA NSUKKA

FACULTY OF ARTS
TOPIC:

Mua

mar
Gaddafi's Foreign Policy with the West
AN

ASSIGNMENT WRITTEN IN PARTIAL FULFILLMENT FOR THE

REQUIREMENT OF THE COURSE:

COMPARATIVE WORLD REVOLUTIONS

(HIS 205)
BY
AKPA UZOCHUCHUKWU M.
ANYANWU PEACE C.
GIDEON EMMANUEL C.
OKOLI CHIAGOZIE L.
OKORIE FABIAN
OKPARA OJIEGO E.
OLUA LINDA M.
UGWU CHUKWUEBUKA M.
UGWU JENNIFER C.

2013/186633
2013/189077
2013/189682
2012/181948
2013/186460
2013/186941
2013/187921
2012/185555
2013/187769

LECTURER: MR NWASHINDU
February, 2015
INTRODUCTION
Beginning in 1969, Colonel Muammar Gaddaf determined Libya's foreign
policy. His principal foreign policy goals were Arab unity, elimination of Israel,
advancement of Islam, support for Palestinians, elimination of outside

particularly Westerninfluence in the Middle East and Africa, and support for a
range of "revolutionary" causes. After the 1969 coup, U.S.-Libyan relations
became increasingly strained because of Libya's foreign policies supporting
international terrorism and subversion against moderate Arab and African
governments. Gaddaf closed American and British bases on Libyan territory
and partially nationalized all foreign oil and commercial interests in Libya
(Wikipedia). Libya under Gaddaf went through a multidimensional foreign
policy system. Libyas foreign policy was very transitional. It was largely
influenced by dynamic variables such as Economic factors, Religious factors,
Political and Social Factors. Perhaps, of all the Western countries Libya (under
Gaddaf) ever had dealings with, the United States stands out as the most
prominent. The US had already developed a signifcant economic and military
presence on its soil even before Libya was granted independence by the
United Nations in 1951. This presence was deepened when oil was discovered
in large commercial reserves in Libya in 1963. As a result, US oil companies
gained great concessions, and a further enhanced US military presence was
established.
While ties initially deepened and the Libyan government remained loyal to the
US policy in the region, Libyas revolutionary coup in 1969 abolished the proUS monarchy, leading to a restructuring of relations. Overcoming the
uncertainties of regime change, US-Libyan relations continued to witness
positive improvements in political and economic spheres. This was in despite
of evidence that the coup leaders desired the end of the US military presence.
We shall outline the various phases under Muammar Gaddaf. As a
consequence of this desire, Libyas authoritarian ruler, Muammar Gaddaf,
shifted policies, as he sought to undermine US interests. Aided by huge oil
wealth, Gaddaf sponsored multiple terrorist groups from 1979, causing the
U.S to retaliate by cutting diplomatic relations and impose sanctions for two
decades. When the Gaddaf regime abandoned this policy in 2003, Libya
embarked on domestic reform, restoring relations with the US. However, as

popular protests swept the country in early 2011, the US ended its
rapprochement with Gaddaf, assisting the rebels in the destruction of his
regime.
GADDAFIS FOREIGN POLICY TRENDS
The huge revenue pouring into Gaddafs purse gave him the false perception
that he was capable of acting as he wished with impunity. Therefore, it would
be safe to say that Gaddaf pursued a relatively adventurous foreign policy.
Gaddaf sponsored world terror groups to fulfl his self-image and role as a
world rebel. An increase in terrorist activities was evident throughout the
1980s and 1990s. Such escalation of Gaddafs anti-US activities led the US to
push for further international sanctions against his regime. Moreover, the US
retaliated by bombarding Gaddafs house in April 1986 and it was actively
involved in attempting to destabilize his regime by aiding domestic opposition.
These efforts were intensifed after Gaddaf was accused in 1991 of a terrorist
attack on an American civilian airliner over the town of Lockerbie (Tobey).
It appears that accusing Libya served many purposes, including isolating the
Gaddaf regime and eventually removing him from power. It also appears that
the Gaddaf regime had to accept responsibility for the actions of its two
citizens implicated in the Lockerbie affair at the same time it was embarking
on a political strategy to restructure its priorities in a changing global
environment. Therefore, the Gaddaf regime abandoned its weapons of mass
destruction (WMD) activities and in 2003 engaged in direct negotiations with
the U.S and the UK (Tobey). Libya sought to liberate itself from the severe
effects

of

international

sanctions

and

their

impact

on

the

domestic

environment. However, the US change of policy was not completely divorced

from the re-evaluation of its own priorities as far as Libya was concerned. The
Bush administration in 2001 decided that energy security dictated a reevaluation of its relationship with Libya. With backing from oil giants, the
administration sought to lift sanctions so that US investments could
recommence in Libya (Zoubir, 46-84).

Both sides, the US and Gaddaf, could claim great success for the new policy.
Relations gradually moved from one success to another and the circle of
common interests widened, particularly with regard to the war on terror,
fghting Muslim extremism, and pursuing the global network of trafficking in
nuclear materials. The gains that the US was able to realise from restoring
relations with Gaddaf were considerable (Alterman, 2006). The US Secretary
of State Condoleezza Rice visited Tripoli and she was entertained by Gaddaf.
The visit provided a diplomatic seal of approval, while issues of human rights
and democracy were clearly pushed to the background or swept under the
carpet.
LIBYAS FOREIGN POLICY UNDER MUAMMAR GADDAFIS REGIME
Very severe changes in Libyas foreign policy with the west under the Gaddaf
regime. For one, Libyas oil industry was nationalised and production was cut
in order to conserve its reserves. The huge fnancial fortune generated by oil
exports fnanced Gaddafs desires and designs, as he embarked on
adventures that brought him into direct contact with the great powers of the
world. Gaddaf particularly became involved in state-sponsored terrorism that
brought Libya into a direct confrontation with the US and its interests. Gaddaf
incited violence against the US as early as December 1979, when the US
embassy in Tripoli was attacked and set on fre (Attir, 147-148).
The United States reacted by unilaterally cutting diplomatic relations with
Libya in 1981. The last two decades of the twentieth century saw the US
impose severe economic sanctions on Libya; however these harsh measures
only resulted in Gaddaf intensifying his anti-US actions.

Gaddaf continued

with targeting U.S interests and personnel; such as his responsibility for deadly
acts against US nationals at the La Belle discotheque in Berlin in 1986. Gaddaf
became US public enemy number one and the target of US air raids on Tripoli
during April 1986, signalling a new phase of direct animosity (Hurst).

Libya under Muammar Gaddaf passed through series of severe tensions and
strains in her relationship with the outside world. This strained relationship
was so particular with the west (especially United States). Although prior to
the Libyan civil war of 2011, the relations with the west was restored in the
early 21st Century. Gaddaf appeared to rehabilitate his image with the west
particularly after the 2003 invasion of Iraq when it was felt he feared the
prospect of a similar incursion on his country. He backed up his words of
condemnation for Al Qaeda and decommissioned his weapons of mass
destruction, which then British Prime Minister Tony Blair described as a
courageous decision. Contrast that reaction and the 2007 meeting between
Blair and Gaddaf in which the PM warmly embraced the Libyan autocrat with a
recent television interview in which Blair fully advocated the removal of the
Colonel from power, explaining the reasons for his change in views:
In 2003 Libya began to make policy changes with the open intention of
pursuing a Western-Libyan dtente. The Libyan government announced its
decision to abandon its weapons of mass destruction programs and pay
almost $3 billion in compensation to the families of Pan Am Flight 103 and UTA
Flight 772.

Starting in 2003, the Libyan government restored normal

diplomatic ties with the European Union and the United States and has even
coined the catchphrase, "The Libya Model", an example intended to show the
world what can be achieved through negotiation rather than force when there
is goodwill on both sides.
On 31 October 2008, Libya paid $1.5 billion, sought through donations from
private businesses, to a fund that would be used to compensate both US
victims of the 1988 bombing of Pan Am flight 103 and the 1986 bombing of
the La Belle disco in Germany. In addition, Libyan victims of US airstrikes that
followed the Berlin attack will also be compensated with $300 million from the
fund. US state department spokesman, Sean McCormack called the move a
"laudable milestone ... clearing the way for continued and expanding USLibyan partnership." This fnal payment under the US-Libya Claims Settlement

Agreement was seen as a major step towards improving ties between the two,
which had begun easing after Tripoli halted its arms programmes. George Bush
also signed an executive order restoring Libya's immunity from terror-related
lawsuits and dismissing pending compensation cases.
On 17 November 2008, FCO minister Bill Rammell signed fve agreements with
Libya. Rammell said: "I will today sign four bilateral agreements with my
Libyan counterpart, Abdulatti al-Obidi, which will strengthen our judicial ties,
as agreed during Tony Blair's visit to Libya in May last year. In addition, we are
signing today a Double Taxation Convention which will bring benefts to British
business in Libya and Libyan investors in the UK benefts in terms of
certainty, clarity and transparency and reducing tax compliance burdens. We
are also in the fnal stages of negotiating an agreement to protect and
promote investment."
"UK/Libya relations have signifcantly improved in recent years, following
Libya's voluntary renunciation of WMD. Today we are partners in the UN
Security Council. We also wish to assist Libya to establish closer relations with
the European Union to continue and strengthen the reintegration of Libya
within the international community. We therefore support the commencement
of negotiations between Libya and the EU on a framework agreement which
should

cover a range

of issues including

political, social, economic,

commercial and cultural relations between the EU and Libya.

On 21 November 2008, the US Senate confrmed the appointment of Gene
Cretz to be the frst US ambassador to Libya since 1972.
During the Libyan Civil War, all European Union and NATO member states
withdrew diplomatic staff from Tripoli and shut their embassies in the Libyan
capital. Several foreign embassies and UN offices were badly damaged by
vandals on 1 May 2011, drawing condemnation from the United Kingdom and
Italy. The UK also expelled the Libyan ambassador in London from the country.

On 1 July 2011, Gaddaf threatened to sponsor attacks against civilians and

businesses in Europe in what would be a resumption of his policies of the
1970s and 1980s.
On 30 August 2008, Gaddaf and Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi signed
a historic cooperation treaty in Benghazi. Under its terms, Italy will pay $5
billion to Libya as compensation for its former military occupation. In
exchange, Libya will take measures to combat illegal immigration coming from
its shores and boost investments in Italian companies. The treaty was ratifed
by Italy in 6 February 2009, and by Libya on 2 March, during a visit to Tripoli
by Berlusconi.
In June 2009, Gaddaf made his frst visit to Rome, where he met Prime
Minister Berlusconi, President Giorgio Napolitano, Senate President Renato
Schifani, and Chamber President

Gianfranco

Fini,

among

others.

The

Democratic Party and Italy of Values opposed the visit, and many protests
were staged throughout Italy by human rights organizations and the Radical
Party. Gaddaf also took part in the G8 summit in L'Aquila in July as Chairman
of the African Union.

CONCLUSION
Judging from the breakdown of Gaddafs various foreign policies towards the
West especially the United States one would rightly observe that those policies
were ephemeral largely because of the different ideological approach from the
two sides. Gaddaf was more of a rigid Anti-Western leader who openly showed

his dislike for the Western System. In direct contrast to Gaddafs the West
adopted a more dynamic and flexible approach in relating with Gaddaf. This
explains the frequent changes that Gaddafs foreign policies underwent as
pertaining to the West. Gaddaf was too blinded to see he was making himself
a puppet in the hands of the west. They played warm and friendly just to get
at the wonderful benefts Libya had to offer. After they were done, they
discarded him; like a pack of old cards! The west eventually stirred up
revolutions and uprisings in Libya during which Gaddaf was kicked out of
power and eventually slain.
As bland as it might sound, Gaddaf was not a skilled power player. He
was mainly influenced by the power he possessed and the authority he
wielded. He could not detect certain antics played by the west. He soon fell.
Quickly! Ultimately, Gaddafs foreign policies were more egocentrically based
than rational.

BIBIOGRAPHY
Vandewalle, Dirk (Ed), Libya Since 1969: Qadhafs Revolution Revisited, New
York: Palgrave Macmillan, 2008).
Walt, Stephen M. What intervention in Libya tells us about the neocon-liberal
alliance, Foreign Policy, 2011.
U.S. Energy Information Administration, Technically Recoverable Shale Oil and
Shale Gas Resources: An Assessment of 137 Shale Formations in 41
Countries Outside the United States, 2013.
U.S. Energy Information Administration, Libya: Overview, 2014.
Zoubir, Yahia H., Libya in US foreign policy: from rogue state to good
fellow? Third World Quarterly, 23:1.
Obama, Barack, President Obamas Speech on Libya, The White House,
2011. http://www.whitehouse.gov/photos-andvideo/video/2011/03/28/president-obama-s-speech-libya
Gaddafs Foreign Policy:
http://www.botswanaguardian.co.bw/newsdetails.php?nid=3037&cat=BG
%20Northern%20Extra