The West Wing takeover: Replacing Libyan democracy with transactionalism

The shift in American priorities regarding Libya was laid bare on 18th February 2026, during the UN Security Council’s 60-day briefing. Libya observers including myself, expected the usual diplomatic platitudes from the US State Department, the microphone was instead taken by Massad Boulos. As the Senior Advisor to President Trump for Arab and African Affairs, Boulos’s appearance was a stark departure from protocol. He is not a career diplomat from “Foggy Bottom,” but a direct extension of the West Wing. By having Boulos deliver the US comments following the briefing—rather than the U.S. Permanent Representative—the Trump administration signalled that the “Libya File” has been officially annexed by the White House. This is more than a mere change of face; it […]