Libya’s General Saddam Haftar deepens defence ties with Cairo

General Saddam Haftar, second in-command of the Libyan National Army (LNA), has met with military officials in Cairo, attending an Egyptian Military Academy’s graduation ceremony, where he congratulated several new LNA Officers, according to the The Arab Weekly plus agencies on October 13th.

General Saddam Haftar, son of Field Marshal Khalifa Haftar, 81, was recently promoted to be deputy commander of the military force. Its a move that signified what the future of the LNA and Government of National Stability (GNS) might hold, with many believing Khalifa selecting his son for the position marks him as the natural successor, in what could be the beginning of a new dynasty of rulers.

In keeping with this strategy, Haftar was eager to emphasise his commitment to Libya-Egyptian military ties, noting the “brotherly” connection between the two countries, which reiterates the importance of their diplomatic relations. Posting on his X account, he expressed his support for the military cooperation between the two countries and praised the graduates from Egypt, Libya and various other partner countries for the success and professionalism.

Saddam Haftar attended the graduation after General Abdel Majeed Saqr, Egypt’s Commander-in-Chief and Minister of Defence and Military Production invited him.

The graduation ceremony was no small affair, with the Egyptian Chief of Staff leutenant General Ahmad Fathi Khalifa, other military officials, foreign dignitaries, governors, ministers, heads of universities and the family members of graduates all attending the event.

The ceremony was also an opportunity for Egypt to show off its advancement in military technology, with lots of displays of new modern weapons systems alongside drones, as well as a test of physical fitness and critical defence skills for the graduates.

Although Saddam Haftar’s attendance would be a memorable and no doubt important part of his visit to Egypt, what followed may be more critical to the LNA and GNS’ future ambitions and diplomatic leverage amid increasing attempts to bring both the internationally recognised Government of National Unity (GNU) and GNS together.

Meeting with senior civilian and military officials in Egypt’s capital, Saddam Haftar was welcomed by his Egyptian colleagues who praised the bilateral relations and cooperation between Benghazi and Cairo as a prime example of the region’s positive diplomatic partnerships.

Saddam Haftar’s invitation to Egypt was the logical next step following General Abdel Majeed Saqr’s congratulatory message to General Haftar after ascension to second in-command of the LNA back in August 2025. General Saqr would stress the continued importance to, and commitment from Egypt to regional stability and security partnerships between the two North African nations, in what he described as an effort that would help to tackle common threats.

While warming relations abroad, General Haftar has not shied away from reinforcing his promises to Libyans in the country’s East, with the new Deputy LNA Commander touring across his country’s south, where in one visit he committed to the community’s security and announced new schemes to improve services in the region.

In an other visit he made to a Police Day in Sebha, he commented on the seriousness of the LNA’s strategy to secure Libya’s future: “[The] pursuit of stability is not a slogan but a reality we will enforce.” He also furthered the LNA’s “Vision 2030,” which seeks to modernise and restructure Libya’s security infrastructure, a strategy put forward by his father, Field Marshal Haftar.

The visit of Saddam Haftar to Egypt marks more than a simple state visit.

Various experts and analysts see the visit, among a number of other recent activities from the LNA, as a wider strategy to consolidate the military’s power in Libya. The large-scale reforms being carried out by senior command are clearly being seen as solidifying its authority by reinforcing border security, energy facilities, ensuring an orderly civil society and promoting its diplomatic ties abroad.

With recent efforts from the wider international community to bring both East and West together again under one banner, the LNA is looking to secure a future in Libya’s establishment, no matter who takes the lead, by consolidating its control over vital infrastructure, while ensuring that it has its own backing from the international community. How successful this strategy will be, however, is far from being revealed.

The Arab Weekly plus agencies, The Atlantic Council, Maghrebi.org