On 27 April, the Libyan National Army (LNA) General Command announced that LNA Deputy Commander Saddam Haftar had paid an official visit to Valleta, Malta where he was received at the airport by Lieutenant General Clinton O’Neill, Chief of the Maltese Defence Force. The visit included a series of high-level meetings aimed at strengthening the partnership between the two countries. A key meeting was on 26 April with the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Deputy Prime Minister, Ian Borg, during which they discussed ways to expand cooperation in the economic, trade, and educational sectors, serving the mutual interests of the two friendly nations.
Saddam also held an extensive meeting with the Maltese Minister of the Interior, Defence, and Security, Byron Camilleri. Discussions focused on mechanisms to combat illegal immigration and smuggling networks, as well as developing specialized training programs to enhance the capabilities of the Libyan Coast Guard in securing maritime borders.
On the sidelines of the visit, Saddam met with former Maltese Prime Minister Joseph Muscat, who praised the General Command’s role in consolidating security and stability, emphasizing the positive impact of these efforts on the security of the Mediterranean region. Muscat himself posted a photo of the meeting, causing some controversy within Malta given Muscat no longer holds an official government or diplomatic role.