US pushes Libya unity talks after Rubio meets LNA deputy commander

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has met Saddam Haftar, the deputy commander of the self-styled Libyan National Army, as Washington steps up efforts to encourage Libya's rival authorities to work toward a unified political settlement. The talks took place on Monday and were described by the US State Department as part of ongoing Libyan-led efforts to unify the country's military, economic and political institutions. The meeting comes as Libya remains split between competing power centres in the east and the internationally recognised authorities in Tripoli.

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According to the State Department, Rubio and Haftar discussed possible avenues for cooperation aimed at advancing unity and peace in Libya. The department said Rubio expressed appreciation for efforts by Libyan leaders to overcome divisions and move toward unity. It also said the United States would remain at the forefront of diplomatic efforts to support Libyan unity and create the conditions for a democratically elected government able to lead the country forward.

The statement did not give further details on any specific commitments made during the talks. The meeting follows a US-brokered agreement in April on unified spending between Libya's two competing governments. That deal covered wages for public sector employees and the National Oil Corporation, which remains central to the country's finances.

Washington is also pushing for military cooperation between eastern and western Libyan authorities, and last year forces loyal to both sides took part in joint drills with the US military in the central coastal city of Sirte. These steps suggest a broader US effort to reduce fragmentation in a country where state institutions have remained divided for years. Libya's current political crisis dates back to the aftermath of the 2011 uprising that toppled longtime leader Muammar Gaddafi.

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The collapse of central authority led to years of armed conflict and competing administrations. In 2014, a newly elected legislative body, the House of Representatives, moved to eastern Libya after armed groups took over Tripoli, while a top court in the capital declared the body invalid. The legislature did not dissolve and instead backed a rival government in the east, which was supported by the LNA formed by Khalifa Haftar, Saddam Haftar's father.

The latest US engagement matters because Libya's divisions continue to affect governance, security and the management of national resources. Any progress on military, economic and political unification would have implications for the country's ability to hold credible elections and maintain basic state functions. It would also matter for regional stability, given Libya's position on the Mediterranean and its long-running role as a point of concern for neighbouring states and international partners.

What remains unclear is whether the latest talks will produce any concrete follow-up between Libya's rival institutions. The State Department statement did not announce a timetable, a new mediation track or any direct agreement between eastern and western authorities. The next developments to watch are whether the unified spending arrangement is implemented smoothly, whether military cooperation advances, and whether Libyan leaders move closer to a framework for elections and a more durable settlement.

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