Turkey is preparing to open a new consulate in Benghazi in the coming period, marking a significant step toward strengthening diplomatic ties with Libya and improving access to consular services for citizens.
The announcement was made by Turkish Ambassador to Libya Güven Begeç during an official visit to the eastern Libyan city. The move reflects Ankara’s growing engagement across Libya and its intention to expand its diplomatic footprint beyond the capital, Tripoli.
During the visit, Benghazi Mayor Ezzedine Al-Gharabi received the Turkish ambassador alongside members of the municipal council. Discussions focused on enhancing cooperation between the two sides, particularly in areas such as local governance, economic development, infrastructure, and public services.
The ambassador congratulated the newly elected municipal leadership, praising the democratic environment in which the elections were held and noting that they reflected the will of the people. He reiterated Turkey’s commitment to maintaining close communication with Benghazi authorities and expressed readiness to provide support aimed at improving municipal performance and service delivery.
For his part, Al-Gharabi welcomed the Turkish delegation and stressed that the visit would contribute to expanding cooperation and benefiting from Turkish expertise in key sectors, including industry, administration, and infrastructure development.
He also pointed to Benghazi’s ongoing urban transformation, attributing recent progress to national reconstruction efforts and security improvements. The mayor expressed hope that Turkey’s involvement would further support development initiatives and strengthen bilateral relations between the two countries.
The planned opening of the Turkish consulate in Benghazi is expected to facilitate travel, business, and diplomatic engagement, while signaling a broader push to deepen cooperation between Ankara and eastern Libya.
Prior to the municipal meeting, Ambassador Begeç also held talks with senior Libyan officials, including Aqeela Saleh and Saddam Khalifa Haftar, underscoring the importance of political and security coordination in advancing bilateral ties.