Boulos: Washington to host signing of Libyan agreement if initiative succeeds

US President’s Senior Adviser for Arab and Middle Eastern Affairs, Massad Boulos, confirmed that the initiative currently being discussed to resolve Libya’s political crisis is an American initiative being overseen directly by US President Donald Trump. He said that if the Libyan parties reach a final consensus, the signing ceremony will be held in Washington in the presence of the US president.

In an interview with Al Arabiya Al Hadath, Boulos said work on the initiative began more than a year ago, with the first meeting between representatives of the rival Libyan parties taking place in Rome in early September last year. He added that several understandings reached during those talks have already begun to be implemented on the ground.

Among the most significant steps, Boulos highlighted the adoption of Libya’s first unified national budget in thirteen years, the conduct of joint military exercises in Sirte under the supervision of the US Africa Command (AFRICOM), and the establishment of a joint security operations room between eastern and western Libya, in cooperation with AFRICOM and several countries, including Italy and Türkiye, as part of efforts to unify the country’s military institution.

Boulos stressed that the initiative is not intended to promote power-sharing or divide Libya, but rather to end the country’s political split, reunify state institutions, and restore national sovereignty. He emphasized that the initiative is fundamentally “Libyan-Libyan,” while the role of the United States and its regional and international partners is limited to facilitating dialogue and providing political support.

He explained that determining the structure of the next executive authority; including the prime ministership or the Presidential Council, is a sovereign decision that belongs exclusively to Libyans, denying that the initiative imposes any externally dictated formula.

The US adviser also said the initiative is progressing in parallel with, and complements, the UN Support Mission in Libya’s roadmap led by Hanna Tetteh. He noted that the American initiative focuses on addressing urgent issues and the short- and medium-term phases, while the UN plan deals with long-term structural challenges.

Boulos revealed that there is daily or near-daily communication with Prime Minister Abdul Hamid Dbeibeh, describing him as a “key partner” in the process. He also said that Deputy Minister of Defense Abdulsalam Al-Zoubi is playing a central role in both the current phase of the initiative and its future stages.

He reaffirmed the United States’ respect for the roles of the House of Representatives and the High Council of State, rejecting claims that the initiative would sideline either institution. He added that 109 out of the House’s 167 members have expressed support for the US-led track.

On elections, Boulos dismissed reports claiming that presidential and parliamentary elections would be postponed until 2032, stating that the initiative envisions only a short transitional period of no more than two to three years before elections are held as soon as possible—a goal that Washington fully supports and encourages.

He added that opposition to the initiative is to be expected, arguing that part of the criticism stems from the fact that its details have not yet been finalized or shared with all stakeholders.