Pakistan Signs $4 Billion Defence Export Deal with Libyan National Army

Pakistan Expands Global Arms Footprint with Historic Libya Defence Agreement

Pakistan has reportedly concluded one of the largest defence export agreements in its history , securing a deal valued at over $4 billion to supply military equipment to the Libyan National Army (LNA) . The agreement marks a significant expansion of Pakistan’s role in the global conventional arms market and aligns with Islamabad’s strategy of building an export-led defence economy .

Details of the Arms Agreement

According to reports, the contract involves the supply of land, air, and naval military equipment to the LNA, which controls much of eastern Libya. Among the platforms expected to feature in the deal are JF-17 Thunder multirole fighter jets , jointly developed by Pakistan and China. Pakistani military sources described the agreement as unprecedented in both scale and value, placing it among the most consequential defence export transactions undertaken by the country.

High-Level Military Engagements

The agreement reportedly followed a high-level meeting in Benghazi between Pakistan’s Chief of Defence Forces Field Marshal Asim Munir and Saddam Khalifa Haftar , deputy commander-in-chief of the Libyan National Army. While Pakistan’s foreign and defence ministries have not issued official statements, sources indicated that the deal reflects expanding military-to-military engagement between Islamabad and the eastern Libyan leadership.

Arms Embargo and Official Justification

Libya has been under a United Nations arms embargo since 2011 , following the NATO-backed uprising that removed Muammar Gaddafi. Pakistani military officials justified the agreement by arguing that the embargo has been widely breached for years by several international actors. They maintained that the export aligns with Pakistan’s policy objective of strengthening its economy through defence manufacturing and overseas sales, with support from both civilian and military leadership.

Important Facts for Exams

• Libya has been under a UN arms embargo since 2011

• The Libyan National Army controls eastern Libya

• JF-17 Thunder is co-developed by Pakistan and China

• Defence exports are central to Pakistan’s economic strategy

Geopolitical Implications

The agreement is expected to attract international scrutiny due to Libya’s prolonged political instability and the sensitivity surrounding weapons transfers. Despite this, the LNA leadership has publicly welcomed the deal, describing it as the start of a new phase of strategic military cooperation with Pakistan. The development signals Islamabad’s growing footprint in Middle Eastern and North African defence markets , even as geopolitical risks remain high.