The American Military Attaché’s office met with the Director of the Office of the Commander-in-Chief of the Libyan Arab Armed Forces, General Khairi Al-Tamimi, in Benghazi to discuss ways to support cooperation between Libyan military institutions. This meeting was highlighted in a statement published by the US Embassy on its official account on platform X.
During this meeting, the US Military Attaché’s office emphasized the importance of continuing efforts towards achieving unity under an elected government led by civilians. This unity is crucial for protecting Libya’s sovereignty and contributing to regional stability.
Additionally, the US Special Envoy Richard Norland and the Chargé d’Affaires at the US Embassy in Libya, Jeremy Berndt, discussed with the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, Marshal Khalifa Haftar, ways to enhance the efforts of the UN envoy Abdoulaye Bathily. These efforts aim to bring together stakeholders to resolve political issues impeding elections and the formation of a unified government.
The US Embassy stated that the American officials highlighted the importance of unifying the Libyan army, protecting Libyan sovereignty, and ensuring the transparent allocation of funds for the reconstruction of Derna and other flood-affected areas. This process should be expert-led and supported by strong technical assistance from international institutions.
The history of cooperation between Libya and the United States has been marked by periods of both collaboration and conflict. A significant turn in the relationship occurred in 2003 when Libya announced its decision to dismantle its weapons of mass destruction program. This led to the lifting of UN sanctions and the beginning of a process to normalize relations with the United States. In 2004, the US re-established a diplomatic presence in Libya, and by 2006, full diplomatic ties were restored as the US removed Libya from its list of state sponsors of terrorism. This normalization paved the way for greater cooperation, including the United States assisting Libya in destroying its chemical weapons.
However, relations were strained again with the outbreak of the Libyan Civil War in 2011. The US government cut ties with the Gaddafi regime and enacted sanctions against senior regime members. The US, along with other nations, began calling for UN authorization for military intervention, which eventually led to the end of Gaddafi’s rule.
Since then, the relationship has been focused on supporting the political process in Libya, including efforts toward unification, stability, and the fight against terrorism. The US has shown interest in supporting Libya’s sovereignty and stability, as well as the unification of the Libyan military.
