On Wednesday, Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan announced that Ankara is actively communicating with Egypt, the UAE, and Qatar to explore ways to achieve peace and unity in Libya.
In an interview with Sky News Arabia, Fidan emphasized Turkey’s commitment to reviving a unified and independent Libyan state that bridges the divide between East and West Libya. He highlighted that Turkey maintains relationships with both the western and eastern regions of Libya.
“Speaker of the House of Representatives Ageela Saleh has visited our country several times. We are in contact with Field Marshal Khalifa Haftar, the Libyan National Army general commander (LNA), and hold discussions with his sons. We have reopened our consulate in the east, which we are currently operationalizing, and all kinds of relations are ongoing,” Fidan stated.
He added that Ankara is in dialogue with Egypt, the UAE, and Qatar, and holds joint meetings to discuss how to achieve lasting peace and national unity in Libya, with the involvement of the United Nations.
Turkey’s involvement in Libya has been multifaceted and deeply influential in shaping the conflict’s dynamics and the ongoing peace process. Since the onset of Libya’s civil unrest following the 2011 revolution that ousted Muammar Gaddafi, the country has been divided between rival factions based in the east and west. Turkey has historically supported the former Government of National Accord (GNA) based in Tripoli. This support has included military assistance, economic investments, and diplomatic backing.
In recent years, the Turkish government has sought to broaden its engagement by reaching out to influential figures in both the eastern and western parts of Libya. This approach aims to foster a more inclusive dialogue that could lead to a comprehensive peace settlement. The reopening of Turkey’s consulate in eastern Libya marks a significant step in these efforts, symbolizing Turkey’s commitment to a unified Libyan state.
