Haftar’s Libya drive sparks a global rally.

Libya’s Eastern Powerhouse Seeks European Endorsement

Military commander Khalifa Haftar is pushing Libya’s unrecognized eastern administration toward de‑facto European recognition, analysts say.

EU Delegation Expelled in Benghazi

• On July 8, an EU ministerial team from Greece, Italy and Malta visited Libya, first in Tripoli (the internationally recognized capital) and then in Benghazi, where the Haftar‑backed faction sits.
• At Benghazi airport a brief disagreement triggered the eastern authorities to accuse the delegation of a “flagrant breach of diplomatic norms,” ordering the dignitaries to leave.
• In Brussels the European Commission admitted a “protocol issue.”
• “The scene at the airport was a calculated move,” said Tarek Megerisi, senior policy fellow at the European Council on Foreign Relations.

Strategic Elevation of Haftar’s Faction

Haftar is leveraging EU concerns about irregular migration to generate de‑facto European recognition, broadening relations beyond raw military engagement.

By turning the delegation away, Haftar signaled that ignoring the eastern administration was no longer an option.

Complex Libyan Diplomacy

European governments recognize Tripoli’s government but maintain contact with Haftar’s forces. The July 6 visit, two days before the aborted trip, involved the Greek foreign minister demanding migration and maritime concessions without tangible incentives. The July 8 EU delegation sought to negotiate on the day’s same terms with Tripoli, elevating the two governments and provoking the eastern administration to “punish Athens.”

Haftar’s Emerging Foreign Policy

• Haftar’s family plays a pivotal role in tackling migrant influx and advancing energy projects, maintaining strategic control of Libya’s eastern coast.
• Haftar’s legitimacy efforts have intensified: French President Emmanuel Macron hosted him in February; Russian President Vladimir Putin welcomed him in May; Haftar’s son, Saddam, visited the United States, Turkey, Italy and Niger.
• Even Ankara, historically supporting Tripoli’s government, now seeks to profit from Haftar‑backed construction projects. Turkey aims for broader geopolitical ambitions, hoping Haftar will endorse a maritime border agreement in the eastern Mediterranean that Tripoli has signed but Athens considers illegal.

In essence, the diplomatic flare at Benghazi airport underscored that the Haftar faction must no longer be underestimated: the eastern side’s strategic assets and financial resources are now actively consolidating legitimacy on the international stage.