Libyan-US-Italian talks focus on unifying state institutions

US President’s Adviser for Arab and African Affairs, Massad Boulos, held talks with Italian Prime Minister’s National Security Adviser Fabrizio Saggio and Saddam Haftar on supporting efforts to unify Libya’s government, economy, and military institution.

In a post on X, Boulos described the meeting as productive, saying it followed Saddam Haftar’s recent visit to Washington. He stressed that the US-Italian partnership has played an important role in advancing Libya’s unification efforts, pointing to cooperation between the US Africa Command (AFRICOM) and the Italian military during the Flintlock 2026 exercises held in Libya.

The meeting also discussed strengthening Libya’s border security and a number of regional priorities, while reaffirming the continuation of the US-Italian partnership in support of peace and stability in Libya.

During his visit to Washington, Saddam Haftar met with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and officials from the US National Security Council to discuss the unification of Libya’s military institution and to build on what Washington described as recent momentum toward unifying the country’s military, economic, and political institutions and creating the conditions necessary for holding national elections.

Days earlier, Deputy Defense Minister in the Government of National Unity Abdulsalam al-Zoubi also visited Washington, where he held talks with Boulos and Wayne Wall, Senior Director for the Middle East and Africa at the US National Security Council. Their discussions focused on continued support for unifying Libya’s security and military institutions, strengthening security cooperation, and building on progress toward unifying the country’s military, economic, and political institutions.

These diplomatic efforts come amid an intensified US push to advance Massad Boulos’ initiative, which he says has entered its final stages. According to Boulos, Washington will bring together the Libyan parties to sign a final agreement under the auspices of President Donald Trump once consensus is reached.

Boulos says the initiative is based on unifying Libya’s military, economic, and political institutions during a transitional period of two to three years ahead of national elections. He has rejected reports claiming the plan had been postponed until 2032, stressing that the initiative is proceeding in parallel with the UN roadmap.