U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio met Saddam Haftar, deputy commander of eastern Libya's armed forces, on Monday to discuss efforts to bridge the country's long-standing institutional divisions and advance political and security coordination.
"The Secretary and Deputy Commander Haftar discussed ongoing Libyan-led efforts to unify the country's military, economic, and political institutions," State Department spokesman Tommy Pigott said.
Rubio "expressed appreciation" for the work of local leaders to overcome current fractures and move toward a comprehensive national settlement.
The high-level meeting in Washington, D.C., focused on creating the conditions for a democratically elected government, Pigott said.
"They discussed possible avenues for cooperation to advance unity and peace in Libya," he added.
