Türkiye Mends Ties with Eastern Libya
2025-04-1041 view
On April 4, Türkiye’s Land Forces Command hosted Saddam Haftar, son of eastern Libyan military chief Khalifa Haftar, at an official ceremony. By receiving him in his capacity as commander of eastern Libyan land forces, Ankara effectively recognized Saddam’s authority, paving the way for reconciliation with the Haftar-led camp.
Reports are circulating in Libya of a preliminary agreement between Türkiye and eastern Libyan factions to establish a military training center, as well as possible subsequent arms deals.
Türkiye’s attempts at rapprochement with eastern Libya, alongside its alliance with Haftar’s erstwhile rivals in the Tripoli-based Government of National Unity (GNU), date back to 2023. Ankara appears to be seeking to mediate among Libyan factions, further entrenching itself as a key player in the North African country and ensuring its political and economic interests.
These include, most notably, preserving the 2019 maritime border demarcation agreement with the GNU, protecting Türkiye’s existing economic interests in the country, and obtaining new investment and reconstruction contracts without the risk that they are blocked by opposing Libyan factions.
Türkiye’s efforts to mend ties with the east will also necessitate a rapprochement with Egypt, an influential regional power in the Mediterranean basin and one that for years has backed anti-Turkish factions in the Libyan conflict.
Ankara’s efforts are however likely to benefit from its largely positive ties with the Trump administration, which appears to support the expansion of Turkish influence in the region at the expense of other actors such as Iran and Russia. EU countries may also support Ankara’s rapprochement with the eastern camp, as it would help reduce Haftar’s reliance on Russian support.
That said, Ankara’s rapprochement with Haftar is unlikely to lead to significant tensions with the GNU. The Turkish government will likely seek to maintain this relationship too, to ensure its subsequent ability to sponsor political mediation in order to resolve the conflict between the eastern and western camps.
Moreover, the GNU has no interest in losing a regional ally, especially given its deteriorating relations with European countries—notably Italy—after the GNU rejected a plan to resettle African migrants.
