US reengages Hifter as Trump pursues dual Libya strategy: What to know
Though the UN Security Council, and by extension Washington, continues to recognize the Tripoli-based GNU as Libya’s legitimate government, the US senior adviser's outreach to both Dbeibah and Hifter points to a dual strategy undertaken by the Trump administration.
US senior adviser for Africa Massad Boulos met with Khalifa Hifter — Libyan National Army (LNA) commander and leader of Libya’s government in the east — in Benghazi on Thursday, in the first such meeting between the eastern Libya leader and a current Trump administration official since the US president returned to office in January.
What happened: In a post on X, Boulos said the two “discussed US support for Libyan efforts to unify institutions, reinforce sovereignty, and chart a path to stability and prosperity through political dialogue.”
A statement from Hifter's office said cooperation "in the economic and industrial sectors" was also on the agenda. Hifter and his forces control key eastern and southern Libyan oil fields and export terminals, overseeing a significant portion of the country's oil production. Libya possesses Africa’s largest proven oil reserves, estimated at approximately 48 billion barrels.
Boulos also met with Saddam Hifter, commander of the LNA’s ground forces and the youngest son of Khalifa Hifter, and they discussed "ways to expand cooperation and reinforce Libyan efforts to unify the military and other key institutions."
