US pledges support for Libya’s unity following high-level talks

The United States administration intends to work with its partners to help restore Libya’s unity, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said following a meeting with Saddam Haftar, deputy commander of the Libyan National Army (LNA), in Washington on June 29.

Rubio wrote on X that he had discussed with Haftar “unifying Libya’s military and building the conditions for lasting peace.” He added that “the U.S. will continue working with Libyan leaders and international partners to support a more peaceful, unified, and prosperous Libya.”

Met with Libyan National Army Deputy Commander Saddam Haftar to discuss unifying Libya’s military and building the conditions for lasting peace. The U.S. will continue working with Libyan leaders and international partners to support a more peaceful, unified, and prosperous… pic.twitter.com/hI8c9TQY0k

— Secretary Marco Rubio (@SecRubio) June 29, 2026

In a written statement, State Department spokesperson Tommy Pigott said that Rubio and Haftar discussed “ongoing Libyan-led efforts to unify the country’s military, economic, and political institutions.”

According to Pigott, Rubio “expressed appreciation for the efforts of Libyan leaders to overcome divisions and move toward unity.” He added that “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.”

On June 17, Bloomberg reported that US authorities were seeking to stabilise the situation in Libya and secure a ceasefire between rival forces in order to gain access to oil reserves and facilitate exploration of new fields.

By Jeyhun Aghazada