On 16 January, Libyan National Army (LNA) Deputy Commander Lieutenant General Saddam Haftar officially visited Paris at the invitation of the Office of the President of the French Republic.
Saddam Haftar held formal talks at the Élysée Palace with the Chief of Military Staff of the French President, General Vincent Giraud, and the Presidential Advisor and Special Envoy for Libya Paul Soler. Haftar conveyed the greetings of his father, LNA Commander Field Marshal Khalifa Haftar, to President Emmanuel Macron and expressed appreciation for the warm reception extended to him and his delegation. He praised France’s longstanding role in counter‑terrorism efforts and highlighted years of cooperation between the French Republic and the LNA, a cooperation that has, according to him, produced tangible results in supporting stability in Libya and confronting a range of security threats.
The discussions focused on strengthening bilateral military and security relations. Haftar emphasized the LNA General Command’s desire to deepen collaboration with France in areas such as military training, capacity building, institutional development, modernization, and the exchange of expertise. He stressed that safeguarding Libya’s stability, unity, and sovereignty remains a top priority and called for continued international support toward these goals. Both sides reviewed recent local, regional, and international developments and exchanged assessments of current security challenges. They underscored the importance of sustained consultation and coordination, particularly in combating terrorism and transnational criminal networks.
In the meeting with Soler, the ongoing diplomatic engagement between eastern Libyan authorities and key international partners were reflected. Soler stressed continued French interest in Libya’s security trajectory and broader regional stability.