Dbeibah woos Washington with broad partnership in hopes of securing support to remain in power

24th July 2025

3 minutes read

Dbeibah woos Washington with broad partnership in hopes of securing support to remain in power

The outgoing head of Libya’s Government of National Unity, Abdelhamid Dbeibah, offered a $70 billion economic partnership to Messaad Boulos, adviser to U.S. President Donald Trump, on Wednesday. The move appears to be an effort to strengthen ties with Washington in hopes of gaining international backing that would help him stay in office.

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The proposal is seen as an investment in the U.S.-Libya relationship, particularly given Trump’s strong focus on American economic interests. According to the official Libyan platform “Hokumatona” on Facebook, the meeting addressed opportunities for joint cooperation in the fields of energy, minerals, infrastructure, health, and telecommunications.

Dbeibah emphasized his government’s commitment to building solid economic partnerships with the United States that would allow major American corporations to participate in Libya’s development and investment projects.

During the meeting, the Libyan delegation presented a detailed overview of the strategic economic partnership, estimated at $70 billion, which includes ready-to-launch projects in energy, mining, electricity, infrastructure, and telecom sectors. The plan aims to provide organized and direct access for U.S. investments into the Libyan market.

The two sides also discussed developments in the oil sector, especially opportunities in newly available onshore and offshore oil blocks, and efforts to enhance transparency and secure sustainable revenues in a more stabilized energy landscape.

Boulos expressed the U.S. administration’s support for Libya’s stabilization efforts and reaffirmed Washington’s interest in maintaining coordination and expanding cooperation with the Government of National Unity.

This proposal comes within a broader context, as Dbeibah‘s government has been actively seeking ways to secure American backing. Reports from March 2025 mentioned a previous offer to host thousands of Palestinian refugees from Gaza in Libya, seen as another attempt to garner U.S. favor through politically and economically appealing initiatives.

Dbeibah and Boulos also discussed the Palestinian issue. The Libyan Prime Minister strongly condemned the crimes, starvation, and ongoing aggression against the Palestinian people in Gaza, calling for an immediate ceasefire, lifting the siege, and protecting civilians from the horrors of war.

Boulos is currently touring the region. On Wednesday, he visited Tunisia and met with President Kais Saied. He is also expected to visit Algeria, according to North African media outlets.

Meanwhile, the U.S. is pursuing military efforts to counter Russian influence in Libya, such as conducting air drills in Sirte near Wagner Group bases. Pentagon teams are also training armed units affiliated with the Dbeibah government to bolster state capacity in asserting sovereignty.

The U.S. maintains a cautious communication strategy with all Libyan parties. While it cooperates with the Tripoli-based government as the legitimate authority, it also keeps open channels with Field Marshal Khalifa Haftar, recognizing him as a key partner in counterterrorism efforts.

Washington remains concerned about Russia’s growing footprint in Libya and continues to push for a comprehensive political solution and the organization of elections to end the chaos exploited by Moscow to expand its influence. The U.S. also calls for greater transparency in reconstruction efforts.