Saddam Khalifa Haftar, deputy commander of the Eastern Libyan Forces, discussed in Washington with officials of the US National Security Council ways to develop military and security cooperation, enhance coordination between the two countries, and support the process of unifying Libyan institutions.
This came during a meeting held with the Director of Middle East and Africa Affairs at the US National Security Council, Wayne Wall, in the presence of the US President's Senior Advisor Massad Boulos, the Chargé d'Affaires of the US Embassy in Libya Jeremy Brent, and a number of officials, according to a statement by Haftar.
The statement explained that the talks dealt with ways to continue military coordination to support the process of unifying the Libyan military institution, where Haftar welcomed the US diplomatic efforts aimed at unifying Libyan institutions, and what the statement described as the US keenness to strengthen the national consensus among Libyans "to achieve the required progress in the path of the US peace initiative".
He added that the US side confirmed its interest in following up on the implementation of the unified development agreement (a unified budget for Libya), in order to enhance the effectiveness of Libyan state institutions, in addition to its continued support for the peace and unity process in the country.
Tripoli fears US rapprochement with East
The position of the political and military parties in western Libya, particularly in the capital Tripoli, has been characterized by apprehension and concern about the recent meetings between US officials led by eastern Libya.
The Government of National Unity, headed by Abdelhamid Dbeibeh, stressed that any international or military outreach must take place through legitimate and internationally recognized executive institutions in the capital, warning that individual meetings could weaken the UN's efforts to unify financial and military institutions under a unified civilian authority.
The High Council of State and the political blocs in western Libya expressed their categorical rejection of any rapprochement that contributes to empowering or consolidating the political influence of the Haftar family, stressing that the only way to resolve the conflict over legitimacy must be through the constitutional track and elections, not through separate security understandings.
US initiative led by Trump for Libyan dialogue
Washington announced on Sunday (June 27th) the launch of a broad U.S. initiative for direct Libyan dialogue, under the supervision and presence of President Donald Trump, in a move that diplomatic sources described as the boldest in years to regroup Libya's actual centers of influence at a single table inside the U.S. capital.
US Presidential Advisor Massad Boulos revealed that the initiative will bring together representatives of the General Command and the Government of National Unity in Washington, stressing that Trump will personally participate in the sessions, in a clear message that the US administration has decided to move from the role of traditional mediator to the role of direct sponsor of a new political path aimed at ending the division and unifying institutions, as he put it.
According to Boulos, Washington has extended invitations to the most influential figures on the ground, led by Saddam Haftar, the most prominent candidate behind the scenes to head the new Presidential Council, along with a delegation representing the General Command in addition to Abdelhamid Dbeibeh, who is strongly proposing to continue at the head of the government within a temporary sharing formula, with a political and technical delegation from Tripoli along with representatives of the House of Representatives and the High Council of State to ensure the comprehensiveness of the process and not to exclude any influential party.
Boulos stressed that Washington is not imposing ready-made solutions, but rather provides a "neutral and pressuring platform" to push the parties towards a historic settlement that ends a transitional phase that has lasted more than a decade, stressing that the final decision on the distribution of positions "rests with the Libyans themselves."
The Initiative's Objectives as Presented by Washington
The initiative, according to Washington, aims to form a short-term unified government that merges the two rival administrations, reorganizes the executive branch and opens the door to major U.S. investments in the oil sector, especially for companies such as ConocoPhillips and Chevron, with the aim of raising Libyan production to 3 million barrels per day.
Washington hopes that the final agreement will be signed at the White House as soon as the two delegations agree, giving the settlement unprecedented international cover.
The U.S. adviser called the initiative a "last chance" to rebuild the Libyan state on new foundations, unify military and economic institutions, and open the way for a phase of long-term political and economic stability.
Who is Saddam Haftar?
Saddam Khalifa Haftar's Lieutenant General Khalifa Haftar is one of the most prominent rising figures in Libya's military and political scenes, serving as the deputy commander-in-chief of the Libyan Armed Forces in the east, the youngest son of Field Marshal Khalifa Haftar and the de facto heir to his father's network of influence in the east and south of the country.
Haftar has extensive influence on the ground and oversees sensitive financial files and security and economic committees, in addition to direct coordination with regional and international partners such as Egypt and Russia, which strengthens his position as an effective decision-maker within the military establishment.
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