President Trump’s startling policy swing in support of Libyan strongman Khalifa Haftar’s siege of Tripoli dumbfounded western diplomatic circles. Over the past several years, the former commander in Muammar Gaddafi’s army has benefited from Russian financial support and training. Regional support has come from Riyadh, Abu Dhabi and Cairo that has pitted both wills and material support against the anti-Saudi coalition of Turkey and Qatar who support myriad Islamic groups aligned with the UN-backed Tripoli forces. Paris’ support of Haftar’s militia and Rome’s support the UN-backed Tripoli forces further underline the growing political divergence