The US ambassador to Libya, Richard Norland, said that the Libyans deserve a unified army capable of defending Libya’s sovereignty and a democratically elected government that represents all Libyans, indicating that the United States is looking forward to partnering with such an army under the civilian authority of such a government.

This came during Ambassador Norland’s speech in his participation in the plenary session of the Security Working Group, in which he affirmed the United States’ support for the Special Representative of the Secretary-General of the United Nations, Abdullah Batili, and Libyan military professionals in their efforts to remove foreign forces, fighters, and mercenaries, and unify the Libyan army.