Ground Forces Chief of Staff of the Libyan National Army (LNA), Lieutenant General Saddam Haftar, made an official visit to France following an invitation from his French counterpart, General Pierre Schill, Chief of Staff of the French Army. The visit marked Libya’s participation in high-level security talks involving fifteen Mediterranean countries.
During his visit on Tuesday, Haftar took part in an expanded military seminar focused on regional defence cooperation. The event, held both on land and aboard the French aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle, addressed shared military and security challenges facing nations bordering the Mediterranean Sea.
The discussions explored mechanisms for boosting regional cooperation against common threats. Key topics included cyber threat prevention, maritime security, and the development of sustainable military partnerships to enhance regional stability.
The inclusion of Libya in such a forum highlights growing efforts to re-integrate the country into broader regional defence frameworks, despite ongoing internal divisions. The seminar served as a platform to foster joint military understanding among participating countries, including European and North African states.
In his remarks, Lieutenant General Saddam Haftar stressed the importance of consolidating military partnerships. He underlined that enhanced defence cooperation would contribute to securing the Mediterranean and fostering long-term peace in the region. Haftar also praised the conference for promoting strategic dialogue and knowledge exchange among armed forces.
The visit reflects France’s ongoing role in encouraging dialogue among Mediterranean militaries, with a particular focus on addressing hybrid and non-traditional threats, such as cyberattacks and irregular migration.
