In a historic development, Libyan Arab Armed Forces Commander, Marshal Khalifa Haftar, welcomed Russian Deputy Defense Minister Yunus-bek Yevkurov and his delegation at the General Command Headquarters in the Rajma area in Benghazi.
Deputy Defense Minister Yevkurov, leading a high-level military delegation, arrived in Benghazi on Tuesday upon the invitation of Marshal Haftar. The Russian Defense Ministry stated that this visit marks the “first fruit” of Russian-Libyan discussions within the framework of the 11th Moscow International Security Conference and the Army 2023 Exhibition.
“This is the first official visit of a Russian military delegation to Libya,” the statement emphasized, highlighting that the discussions during the visit would focus on potential collaborations in counter-terrorism efforts and other areas of joint action.
Major General Ahmed Al-Mismari, the spokesperson for the General Command Forces, clarified that the Russian delegation’s visit is part of broader military and security cooperation, particularly in the fight against terrorism and cross-border crime.
Upon their arrival, the Russian delegation engaged in a technical meeting with the chiefs of staff to deliberate on coordination between the two parties. The discussions also addressed the crucial matter of “the maintenance of Russian weapons and equipment owned by the General Command, which is the backbone of arming the Libyan National Army,” according to General Al-Mismari.
The meeting between Marshal Haftar and Deputy Defense Minister Yevkurov signifies a significant step in enhancing bilateral ties and fostering collaboration on strategic military and security fronts between Libya and Russia.
