US Secretary of State Marco Rubio met Libyan National Army (LNA) Deputy Commander Saddam Haftar in Washington on 29 June, highlighting renewed US efforts to support Libya’s reunification. The talks focused on unifying the country’s military institutions, advancing lasting peace, and expanding military and economic cooperation.
According to Rubio, the meeting centered on building the conditions for a unified Libyan military and a sustainable peace process. Libyan media reported that Saddam Haftar, who has recently taken a more prominent diplomatic role, also expressed the LNA’s appreciation for US President Donald Trump’s approach to the Libyan conflict. Pro-LNA outlets described the discussions as a sign of growing cooperation between Washington and the eastern-based forces.
The meeting came days after Libya’s Government of National Unity (GNU) Undersecretary of Defence Abdul Salam Zubi held separate talks in Washington with US envoy Massad Boulos. The US State Department has said it is working to create the conditions needed for a democratically elected and unified Libyan government.
The Washington meetings have prompted debate in Libyan media over whether the latest US diplomatic initiative could help resolve the country’s long-running political crisis or simply manage it. Some analysts argued that negotiations remain the only viable path to a settlement, while others noted that the United States has yet to formally intervene in Libya’s internal political process.
According to Libyan media reports, the US proposal under discussion could include a power-sharing arrangement between the Haftar family and the family of GNU Prime Minister Abdul Hamid al-Dbeibah. If diplomatic engagement continues, it could increase momentum toward reunifying Libya’s institutions, although the details of any potential agreement remain unclear.
