On Sunday, Lieutenant General Khaled Haftar, Chief of Staff of Libya’s Security Units, held a high-level meeting with Colonel General Yunus-Bek Yevkurov, Russia’s Deputy Minister of Defense, as part of his official visit to the Russian Federation.
The meeting brought together senior military commanders from both sides and focused on enhancing strategic cooperation in defense and security.
According to sources close to the Libyan delegation, the talks were a continuation of earlier discussions aimed at reinforcing bilateral coordination on matters of military training, defense modernization, joint exercises, intelligence-sharing, and counterterrorism efforts. The two sides also emphasized their shared interest in fostering stability across North Africa and the broader Mediterranean region.
General Haftar’s visit to Russia reflects Libya’s efforts to diversify its international defense partnerships and modernize its security architecture. With ongoing challenges related to national unity and institutional fragmentation, Libya’s military leadership is seeking stronger international cooperation to boost its operational readiness and strategic autonomy.
The meeting with Yevkurov is part of a broader series of diplomatic and military engagements between Libya and Russia. General Haftar has made several appearances in Moscow in recent years, underlining the growing military dialogue between the two countries. While no specific agreements were made public, sources described the conversations as constructive and forward-leaning.
The Russian Ministry of Defense acknowledged the visit as an opportunity to reaffirm Moscow’s commitment to expanding its engagement in North Africa, particularly through long-term partnerships in security, logistics, and capacity-building.
