On Monday, Lieutenant General Khairy Al-Tamimi, Secretary General of the Libyan National Army (LNA) General Command, Khairi al-Tamimi and member of the 5+5 Joint Military Commission (JMC), held a meeting on Monday with Turkish Ambassador to Libya, Güven Begeç, at the General Command headquarters in Benghazi.
The discussions focused on strengthening cooperation between the two sides, according to a statement by Al-Tamimi on his official Facebook page.
Earlier today, the Turkish ambassador met with Chairman of the Benghazi Municipality’s Steering Council, Al-Saqr Boujwari.
During the talks, the ambassador emphasized Turkey’s intention to reopen its consulate in Benghazi soon. He described the decision as part of Ankara’s broader efforts to bolster cooperation with Libya, particularly in economic and developmental sectors. The reopening of the consulate is expected to streamline diplomatic and economic interactions, further enhancing bilateral relations.
This visit follows a similar meeting on November 7, 2024, when Al-Tamimi welcomed the Turkish military attaché and his delegation at the LNA’s General Command in Rajma. These engagements have revolved around potential collaboration and avenues to improve bilateral ties.
Turkey’s increasing diplomatic efforts in Benghazi come after years of strained relations with the eastern part of Libya, where the LNA holds significant influence. Historically, Turkey has aligned itself with western Libya and the Tripoli-based Government of National Unity (GNU), but recent moves signal a shift toward engaging more with leaders in the east.
As Libya navigates its path to recovery, the LNA’s engagement with international actors like Turkey underscores the importance of diplomatic dialogue. Whether these discussions will yield tangible results or deepen existing tensions remains to be seen, but they represent a notable step in the evolving relationship between Libya’s east and Turkey.
