The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Libyan National Unity Government summoned the US Chargé d'Affairs in Tripoli, in protest against statements made by US President Donald Trump during an election rally, in which he described Libya as one of the countries "infested with terrorism." Trump's statements sparked angry reactions in the east and west of the country, before the US President returned and affirmed his respect for the Libyan people and Washington's commitment to its relations with Libya.
Official note of protest to Washington
The Libyan Ministry of Foreign Affairs said yesterday, Sunday, that it had handed over to the US Chargé d'Affaires an official memorandum of protest, in which it demanded clarifications regarding Trump's statements and correction of what was contained therein.
In its statement, the Ministry affirmed its refusal to “inject the name of Libya and its people into electoral debates and internal political calculations,” stressing that the country rejects any abuse that affects its image or status.
Trump's statements ignite controversy
Trump spoke during an election rally in Perry, Georgia, about the immigration file, criticizing a bill supported by US Senator Jon Ossoff. Trump said: “(US Senator) Jon Ossoff personally sponsored a bill to bring in hordes of immigrants from countries infested with terrorism such as Libya, Yemen, Haiti and Somalia. Do you remember what I call them? Dirty countries.”
Trump thus recalled controversial statements he had made during his first presidential term.
Unified rejection in the East and West
Trump's statements sparked a widespread wave of discontent in Libyan political circles, as the competing authorities in the east and west of the country denounced them, considering that including Libya in the American electoral discourse is unacceptable.
The head of the National Unity Government, Abdul Hamid Al-Dabaiba, said on his Facebook page: “Libya is a sovereign state, and we reject any insult to it or to its people who have made great sacrifices in the fight against terrorism.”
He added: "We are keen that our relations with the United States are based on mutual respect, and we will not accept that the dignity of Libya and its people be the subject of electoral debates."
Saddam Haftar demands an official position
For his part, the Deputy Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces in eastern Libya, Saddam Haftar, considered what Trump issued against Libya and its people “a reprehensible and unacceptable matter,” registering his refusal “for electoral debates or internal political considerations to be a justification for insulting countries and peoples or diminishing their dignity.”
Saddam Haftar said: “Libya is an independent, sovereign state, and its national dignity is above all considerations, and we cannot accept that it be the subject of abuse or disparagement under any circumstances or political justification.”
He called for taking a clear official position, and urged the concerned authorities to initiate the necessary diplomatic measures, including notifying the American side of an official protest and demanding that what he described as abuse be addressed in proportion to its size.
He also stressed his keenness to build cooperative and friendly relations with the United States based on mutual respect.
Trump changes his tone and praises the Libyans
In an attempt to contain the controversy, Trump returned to comment on the issue on the “Truth Social” platform on Sunday, stressing the United States’ commitment to its relations with Libya.
Trump described the Libyan people as "proud, steadfast, hospitable, and deserving of peace and prosperity." He wrote: “We respect the Libyan people and the sacrifices made by brave Libyans in the fight against ISIS, the common enemy of our two peoples, but Libya cannot remain a corridor for illegal migration, and this must end now.”
Diplomatic tension against the backdrop of an election speech
The crisis reveals the sensitivity of the use of immigration and terrorism issues in American election campaigns, especially when they relate to countries with diplomatic relations with Washington. While the Libyan authorities insisted on rejecting Trump's statements, the latter sought to distinguish between its criticism of the illegal immigration issue and its position on the Libyan people and its relations with the Libyan state.
