Saddam Haftar, deputy commander of the Libyan National Army (LNA, the eastern-based force loyal to Marshal Khalifa Haftar that controls much of eastern Libya), traveled to Moscow on Wednesday to meet President Vladimir Putin and Defense Minister Andrei Belousov. Talks centered on military training, capacity building, and combat readiness programs, with both sides describing the discussions as laying the groundwork for a deeper strategic partnership. The visit underscores Russia's efforts to consolidate its foothold in Libya — where it already operates military bases in Benghazi and the south — giving Moscow access to the Mediterranean and the African Sahel at a moment when U.S. pressure to reunify the divided country is intensifying.