U.S. Special Envoy to Libya Ambassador Richard Norland, Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for North Africa Bureau of Near Eastern Affairs Joshua Harris, and U.S. Embassy to Libya Chargé d’Affaires Jeremy Berndt were pleased to meet with Deputy Minister of Transport for Air Transport Affairs, Khaled Swessi, “to reaffirm U.S. support for strengthening Libya’s civil aviation sector and airport security,” according to US Embassy in Libya.
“The goal is to build Libya’s connections internally and with the rest of the world. Under this framework, the United States is providing an additional $4.5 million for Sebha Airport through the U.S. Department of State Bureau of Counterterrorism’s Libya Aviation and Airport Security Program,” the Embassy said in a statement.
This new funding will support efforts to Promote Stability in southern Libya, foster more economic opportunities, and enable Sebha Airport to expand operations as an aviation hub, the Embassy pointed out.
Since 2018, the U.S. has allocated over $20 million to Libyan aviation security. Nearly 3,000 Libyan airport officials have attended U.S.-sponsored trainings, including nearly 300 women, it explained.
The United States is fully committed to strengthening Libya’s civil aviation sector and working with stakeholders to connect Libya with the world, the Embassy added.