Marco Rubio Meets Libyan Commander as US Pushes Libya Unity

JAKARTA – United States Secretary of State Marco Rubio met Libyan National Army (LNA) Deputy Commander Saddam Haftar on Monday as Washington intensified diplomatic efforts to help reunify Libya after more than a decade of political division and armed conflict.

The meeting underscored the administration of President Donald Trump's growing engagement in the oil-rich North African country, where rival governments in the east and west have competed for power since 2014 despite repeated international mediation efforts.

According to the US Department of State, Rubio and Haftar discussed ongoing Libyan-led efforts to unify the country's military, economic, and political institutions, while exploring possible avenues for cooperation aimed at advancing national unity and peace.

Rubio also praised Libyan leaders for their efforts to bridge longstanding divisions.

"The United States will remain at the forefront of diplomatic efforts to support Libyan unity and create the conditions for a democratically elected government able to lead Libya forward," State Department spokesperson Tommy Pigott said in a statement following the meeting.

As reported by Al Jazeera, the talks come as Washington expands its role in resolving Libya's prolonged political crisis, which has persisted since the NATO-backed uprising that toppled longtime leader Muammar Gaddafi in 2011.

Libya's current political split dates back to 2014, when disputed parliamentary elections resulted in rival administrations emerging in the eastern city of Benghazi and the capital, Tripoli. While the United Nations continues to recognize the government in Tripoli, the eastern administration is backed by the self-styled Libyan National Army led by Field Marshal Khalifa Haftar.

Khalifa Haftar has remained the dominant military figure in eastern Libya since consolidating control over much of the region after 2016. His son, Saddam Haftar, now serves as deputy commander of the LNA and is widely viewed as his likely successor.

In recent weeks, Saddam Haftar has stepped up diplomatic engagements abroad, meeting senior officials including French President Emmanuel Macron and Egypt's defense minister, reflecting his increasingly prominent international role.

Washington has simultaneously sought to encourage practical cooperation between Libya's rival authorities. Earlier this year, the United States helped facilitate an agreement between the competing governments on unified public spending, including salaries for public sector employees and funding arrangements involving Libya's National Oil Corporation.

The United States has also encouraged military coordination between eastern and western Libyan forces. Last year, military units aligned with both rival governments participated in joint exercises with US forces in the coastal city of Sirte, marking one of the few examples of security cooperation between the opposing sides.

The Trump administration has placed White House adviser Massad Boulos at the center of its Libya initiative. Boulos recently said that if negotiations continue to progress, representatives from Libya's rival governments could be invited to Washington to sign a final political agreement in the presence of President Trump.

"The United States will continue its efforts to support the Libyan people, who have suffered 15 years of war and division," Boulos said.

Despite a ceasefire reached in 2020 after the LNA's unsuccessful offensive to seize Tripoli, Libya remains divided politically and institutionally, with periodic clashes continuing in parts of the country. US officials hope renewed diplomatic engagement can help lay the groundwork for unified national institutions and eventually pave the way for democratic elections.

Read: Rubio to India's Modi: US Won't Let Iran Hold Energy Market 'Hostage'

Click here to get the latest news updates from Tempo on Google News

Rubio to India's Modi: US Won't Let Iran Hold Energy Market 'Hostage'

36 hari lalu

US Secretary Marco Rubio to Meet Pope Leo at the Vatican

53 hari lalu

Israel, Lebanon Agree to Launch Direct Talks After US Meeting

15 April 2026

US Prepares for 100 Days of War Against Iran

5 Maret 2026

Rubio: US Strikes on Iran Prompted by Israel's Plan to Launch Attack

4 Maret 2026

US: Rubio and Vance Warn of Iran's Threat Ahead of Talks

26 Februari 2026

US Secretary of State to Meet Danish Officials Amid Greenland Tensions

8 Januari 2026

US Says It Will Not Govern Venezuela, Except Oil Quarantine

5 Januari 2026

Trump Claims Cubans Killed in US Raid to Capture Maduro

4 Januari 2026

U.S. Optimistic UNSC Will Adopt Resolution on Gaza International Stability Force

14 November 2025