Libya’s eastern-based Libyan National Army (LNA) has signed a landmark $4 billion deal to acquire military equipment from Pakistan, in a move that could significantly bolster its capabilities in the country’s ongoing power struggle.

The agreement, confirmed by both LNA officials and Pakistani sources, was finalized last week in Benghazi following a meeting between LNA deputy commander-in-chief Saddam Khalifa Haftar and Pakistan’s military chief, Field Marshal Asim Munir.

The deal includes 16 JF-17 multi-role fighter jets co-developed by Pakistan and China, along with 12 Super Mushak trainer aircraft for pilot instruction. Additional equipment for land, sea, and air operations is also part of the package, expected to be delivered over two-and-a-half years.

Haftar announced the deal on Al-Hadath television, calling it a “new phase of strategic military cooperation” with Pakistan. The LNA’s official media highlighted that the agreement also covers joint training and military manufacturing initiatives.

Libya remains under a UN arms embargo imposed in 2011 after the NATO-backed overthrow of Muammar Gaddafi. While the embargo requires UN approval for weapons transfers, a December 2024 UN report found that restrictions have been largely ineffective, with multiple countries increasingly open about supplying Libyan factions.

Pakistani officials involved in the deal maintained that the agreement does not violate international sanctions. They noted that Pakistan is among several countries engaging with Libya’s military actors and emphasized that Haftar himself faces no UN sanctions.

The deal positions the LNA to strengthen its influence in Libya’s fragmented security landscape and oil-backed economy, while also signaling a broader trend of Middle Eastern and North African powers vying for leverage in the region.

Analysts say the acquisition could shift the balance of power among rival factions and deepen Libya’s strategic ties with countries outside traditional Western defense networks.