Editing Muammar Gaddafi (section)

====Foreign relations====

Following Anwar Sadat's ascension to the Egyptian presidency, Libya's relations with Egypt deteriorated.{{sfnm|1a1=Harris|1y=1986|1p=88|2a1=Blundy|2a2=Lycett|2y=1987|2pp=74, 93–94|3a1=Kawczynski|3y=2011|3p=66}} Over the coming years, the two slipped into a state of [[Cold war (general term)|cold war]].{{sfn|Bearman|1986|pp=166–167}} Sadat was perturbed by Gaddafi's unpredictability and insistence that Egypt required a cultural revolution akin to that being carried out in Libya.{{sfnm|1a1=Harris|1y=1986|1p=88|2a1=Blundy|2a2=Lycett|2y=1987|2pp=74, 93–94|3a1=Kawczynski|3y=2011|3p=66}} In February 1973, Israeli forces shot down [[Libyan Arab Airlines Flight 114]], which had strayed from Egyptian airspace into Israeli-held territory during a sandstorm. Gaddafi's foreign minister [[Salah Busir]] was on board and allegedly targeted by Israel in retaliation for the [[Munich massacre]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=في كتابه الجديد.. محمد عبد الهادى علام يكشف بالوثائق تفاصيل جديدة ومثيرة حول اغتيال بويصير والكيخيا (1-2) |url=https://gate.ahram.org.eg/News/272873.aspx |access-date=2 February 2023 |website=بوابة الأهرام |language=ar |archive-date=2 February 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230202015923/https://gate.ahram.org.eg/News/272873.aspx |url-status=live }}</ref> Gaddafi was infuriated that Egypt had not done more to prevent the incident, and in retaliation planned to destroy the ''[[Queen Elizabeth 2]]'', a British ship chartered by American Jews to sail to [[Haifa]] for Israel's 25th anniversary. Gaddafi ordered an Egyptian submarine to target the ship, but Sadat cancelled the order, fearing a military escalation.{{sfnm|1a1=Bearman|1y=1986|1pp=114–115|2a1=Harris|2y=1986|2p=87|3a1=Blundy|3a2=Lycett|3y=1987|3pp=82–83|4a1=St. John|4y=1987|4p=55|5a1=Kawczynski|5y=2011|5pp=66–67}}

[[File:Gaddafi 1976.jpg|thumb|left|upright|Gaddafi in 1976 with a child on his lap]]

Gaddafi was later infuriated when Egypt and Syria planned the [[Yom Kippur War]] against Israel without consulting him and was angered when Egypt conceded to peace talks rather than continuing the war.{{sfnm|1a1=Bearman|1y=1986|1pp=99–100|2a1=Harris|2y=1986|2p=87|3a1=Kawczynski|3y=2011|3p=67|4a1=St. John|4y=2012|4pp=182–183}} Gaddafi became openly hostile to Egypt's leader, calling for Sadat's overthrow.{{sfn|Kawczynski|2011|p=67}} When Sudanese President [[Gaafar Nimeiry]] took Sadat's side, Gaddafi also spoke out against him, encouraging the [[Sudan People's Liberation Army]]'s attempt to overthrow Nimeiry.{{sfnm|1a1=Bearman|1y=1986|1p=167|2a1=Blundy|2a2=Lycett|2y=1987|2p=185|3a1=St. John|3y=1987|3p=62|4a1=Kawczynski|4y=2011|4pp=79–80|5a1=St. John|5y=2012|5p=191}} In 1974, Gaddafi released [[Abdul-Aziz Shennib]], a commander under [[Idris of Libya|King Idris]], from prison and appointed him Libyan ambassador to [[Jordan]]. Shennib had attended the [[Royal Military Academy Sandhurst]] with [[Hussein of Jordan|King Hussein of Jordan]] and was tasked by Gaddafi with Hussein's assassination. Shennib instead informed Hussein of the plot and defected to Jordan.<ref name=":7">{{Cite web |date=19 October 2011 |title=For Amal, life (re)begins at 75 |url=https://www.arabnews.com/node/395340 |access-date=9 February 2023 |website=Arab News |language=en |archive-date=9 February 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230209163127/https://www.arabnews.com/node/395340 |url-status=live }}</ref> Relations with Syria also soured over the events in the [[Lebanese Civil War]]. Initially, both Libya and Syria had contributed troops to the Arab League's peacekeeping force, although after the Syrian army attacked the [[Lebanese National Movement]], Gaddafi openly accused Syrian President [[Hafez al-Assad]] of "national treason"; he was the only Arab leader to criticize Syria's actions.{{sfn|Bearman|1986|pp=165–166}} In late 1972 and early 1973, Libya invaded Chad to annex the uranium-rich [[Aouzou Strip]].{{sfnm|1a1=Blundy|1a2=Lycett|1y=1987|1p=181|2a1=St. John|2y=2012|2p=187}}

Intent on propagating Islam, in 1973 Gaddafi founded the Islamic Call Society, which had opened 132 centres across Africa within a decade.{{sfnm|1a1=Bearman|1y=1986|1pp=106–107|2a1=Harris|2y=1986|2pp=103–104|3a1=Blundy|3a2=Lycett|3y=1987|3pp=93, 122|4a1=St. John|4y=2012|4p=186}} In 1973 he converted Gabonese President [[Omar Bongo]], an action which he repeated three years later with [[Jean-Bédel Bokassa]], president of the [[Central African Republic]].{{sfn|Kawczynski|2011|pp=77–78}} Between 1973 and 1979, Libya provided $500&nbsp;million in aid to African countries, namely to Zaire and Uganda, and founded joint-venture companies throughout the countries to aid trade and development.{{sfn|St. John|1987|p=96}} Gaddafi was also keen on reducing Israeli influence within Africa, using financial incentives to successfully convince eight African states to break off diplomatic relations with Israel in 1973.{{sfnm|1a1=Bearman|1y=1986|1pp=107–109|2a1=Harris|2y=1986|2p=88|3a1=St. John|3y=1987|3p=94|4a1=Kawczynski|4y=2011|4p=77|5a1=St. John|5y=2012|5p=184}}

A strong relationship was also established between Gaddafi's Libya and Prime Minister [[Zulfikar Ali Bhutto]]'s Pakistani government, with the two countries exchanging nuclear research and military assistance. In recognition of Gaddafi's  support of [[N-deterrence|Pakistan's right to pursue nuclear weapons]] and financial support for the "Islamic bomb," Lahore Stadium was renamed [[Gaddafi Stadium]].<ref>{{cite news |author=Murtaza Razvi |date=25 February 2011 |title=A stadium called Gaddafi |newspaper=Indian Express (newspaper) |url=http://www.indianexpress.com/news/a-stadium-called-gaddafi/754608/0 |url-status=live |access-date=11 November 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110407022026/http://www.indianexpress.com/news/a-stadium-called-gaddafi/754608/0 |archive-date=7 April 2011}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Faridi |first=Dr. Salman |date=4 October 2020 |title=The iconic Gaddafi Stadium {{!}} Sports {{!}} thenews.com.pk |url=https://www.thenews.com.pk/tns/detail/724066-the-iconic-gaddafi-stadium |access-date=2 October 2022 |website=[[The News International]] |language=en |archive-date=6 February 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230206153753/https://www.thenews.com.pk/tns/detail/724066-the-iconic-gaddafi-stadium |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name=":2">{{Cite web |date=9 March 2016 |title=Gaddafi's Mental Follies and Megalomania |url=https://www.israeldefense.co.il/en/content/gaddafis-mental-follies-and-megalomania |access-date=6 February 2023 |website=Israel Defense |language=en |archive-date=6 February 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230206153751/https://www.israeldefense.co.il/en/content/gaddafis-mental-follies-and-megalomania |url-status=live }}</ref> Gaddafi also provided support for Pakistan in the [[Bangladesh Liberation War]]; he reportedly deployed [[Northrop F-5|F-5s]] to [[Sargodha Airbase|Sargodha AFB]] and penned a strongly worded letter to [[Indian Prime Minister]] [[Indira Gandhi]] accusing her of aggression against Pakistan.<ref name="Pen and Sword, Bowman">{{cite book |last1=Bowman |first1=Martin |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=QleqCwAAQBAJ&pg=PA112 |title=Cold War Jet Combat: Air-to-Air Jet Fighter Operations 1950–1972 |publisher=Pen and Sword |year=2016 |isbn=978-1-4738-7463-3 |page=112 |access-date=6 February 2023 |archive-date=7 February 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230207214845/https://books.google.com/books?id=QleqCwAAQBAJ&pg=PA112 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="THe News International">{{cite news |last=Nazar Abbas |date=26 August 2011 |title=Gaddafi is gone, long live Libya |newspaper=The News International |url=https://www.thenews.com/Todays-News-2-64753-Gaddafi-is-gone-long-live-Libya |url-status=dead |access-date=9 August 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130809005813/http://www.thenews.com.pk/Todays-News-2-64753-Gaddafi-is-gone-long-live-Libya |archive-date=9 August 2013}}</ref> Gaddafi's strong relationship with Pakistan ended after Bhutto was [[Operation Fair Play|deposed]] by [[Muhammad Zia-ul-Haq]] in 1977 as Zia distrusted Gaddafi and rejected further Libyan financing for the [[Pakistani nuclear programme|Pakistani nuclear program]] in favor of Saudi financing.{{sfn|Bearman|1986|p=169}}<ref name=":2" /><ref>{{Cite web |title=Colonel Gaddafi pressurises General Zia-ul-Haq to supply Libya with nuclear weapon |url=https://www.indiatoday.in/magazine/international/story/19810815-colonel-gaddafi-pressurises-general-zia-ul-haq-to-supply-libya-with-nuclear-weapon-773135-2013-11-13 |access-date=6 February 2023 |website=India Today |date=13 November 2013 |language=en |archive-date=6 February 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230206153750/https://www.indiatoday.in/magazine/international/story/19810815-colonel-gaddafi-pressurises-general-zia-ul-haq-to-supply-libya-with-nuclear-weapon-773135-2013-11-13 |url-status=live }}</ref>

Gaddafi sought to develop closer links in the [[Maghreb]]; in January 1974 Libya and Tunisia announced a political union, the [[Arab Islamic Republic]]. Although advocated by Gaddafi and Tunisian President [[Habib Bourguiba]], the move was deeply unpopular in Tunisia, and it was soon abandoned.{{sfnm|1a1=Bearman|1y=1986|1pp=100–101|2a1=Blundy|2a2=Lycett|2y=1987|2p=76|3a1=Kawczynski|3y=2011|3pp=71–72|4a1=St. John|4y=2012|4p=183}} Retaliating, Gaddafi sponsored anti-government militants in Tunisia into the 1980s.{{sfnm|1a1=Kawczynski|1y=2011|1p=72|2a1=St. John|2y=2012|2p=183}} Turning his attention to [[Algeria]], in 1975 Libya signed, in [[Hassi Messaoud]], a defensive alliance allegedly to counter alleged "Moroccan expansionism", also funding the [[Polisario Front]] of [[Western Sahara]] in its independence struggle against [[Morocco]].{{sfnm|1a1=Bearman|1y=1986|1p=170|2a1=Kawczynski|2y=2011|2p=71|3a1=St. John|3y=2012|3p=183}} Seeking to diversify Libya's economy, Gaddafi's government began purchasing shares in major European corporations like [[Fiat]] as well as buying real estate in Malta and Italy, which would become a valuable source of income during the [[1980s oil glut|1980s oil slump]].{{sfnm|1a1=Harris|1y=1986|1p=114|2a1=Blundy|2a2=Lycett|2y=1987|2pp=199–201}}