On Thursday, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan welcomed Ahmed Aboul Gheit, Secretary-General of the Arab League, in Ankara during an official visit focused on regional peace and stability.
Libya emerged as the centerpiece of the discussions, with both leaders emphasizing the importance of collaborative efforts to resolve the country’s ongoing political crisis.
The high-level talks, which were held at the invitation of the Turkish government, also addressed other critical regional issues, including the conflicts in Sudan, Syria, Iraq, and Somalia. As part of his visit, Aboul Gheit also met with Turkey’s Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, underscoring Ankara’s intent to play a more active role in stabilizing the region.
According to Jamal Rushdi, spokesperson for the Arab League, the discussions focused on promoting ceasefires and preventing the escalation of conflicts across multiple fronts. Both Erdogan and Aboul Gheit stressed the need for coordinated efforts to ensure regional peace, especially in Libya, where instability continues to threaten broader regional security.
Libya was a key focus during the talks, reflecting the country’s critical importance in regional geopolitics. Despite a ceasefire agreement reached in 2020, Libya remains divided between factions in the east and west, with elections repeatedly postponed and efforts to reunify state institutions stalling. The continuing political deadlock has left the country in limbo, with growing concerns about renewed violence.
Erdogan and Aboul Gheit pledged to intensify peace efforts in Libya, committing to support political reconciliation and encourage dialogue between rival factions. Both leaders stressed that Libya’s elections must move forward to restore legitimacy to state institutions and achieve lasting stability.
Turkey has been a prominent player in Libya, supporting the former Tripoli-based Government of National Unity (GNU) in the West.
However, Ankara’s involvement has occasionally created tension with Arab states that back the eastern-based Libyan National Army (LNA), led by Field Marshal Khalifa Haftar. Despite these differences, the discussions in Ankara reflected a mutual interest in avoiding further conflict and working toward a peaceful political resolution.
