“The return of American companies is an indication of an improved investment environment in Libya,” Berndt says.

Tripoli, 12 August 2025 (Lana) Chargé d’Affaires of the U.S. Embassy to Libya, Jeremy Berndt, affirmed that the past few months have witnessed development in economic relations between Libya and the U.S., commending Libya's determination to strengthen partnerships with American companies, particularly in the energy and technology sectors.

This came in an interview he conducted with the "Libya Al-Ahrar" channel and published by the U.S. Embassy in X yesterday, regarding the future of economic relations between the two countries.

Berndt stated that the recent visit of Senior Advisor to the US President, Richard Boulos, to Tripoli and Benghazi marked a significant milestone in the advancement of cooperation between the two countries. During this visit, the National Oil Corporation (NOC) and the American company Hill International signed a $235 million contract to develop gas projects in Structures A and E, thereby contributing to increased national production.

He added that the U.S. administration strongly supports any investments that contribute to strengthening economic growth and achieving mutual benefits, pointing to the signing of a memorandum of understanding between the NOC and ExxonMobil to conduct offshore gas exploration studies, which reflects the growing confidence of international companies in the Libyan market.

In the same context, he revealed that efforts are ongoing to finalize the terms of the agreement with the partners of the Waha project, including the American company ConocoPhillips, with the aim of increasing oil field production, in line with Libya's vision to expand its energy production capacity.

In response to a question about circulating reports about reconsidering the policy of freezing Libyan assets, Berndt denied any official discussion by the U.S. government on this matter, explaining that the freeze on Libyan assets remains in place under UN Security Council Resolution 1970 of 2011.

"There is absolutely no truth to the allegations that Senior Advisor Boulos or any US official participated in discussions regarding lifting the freeze on Libyan assets. These allegations are intended to create confusion, and the Libyan people must not be drawn into them," he said.

He concluded by stressing that the focus should be on the progress in economic relations and on partnerships that benefit both countries, expressing his country's hope for a stable and unified Libya, enabling it to achieve a more prosperous future.

=Lana=