Türkiye vows to back dialogue between Libya’s east and west

Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan has affirmed that Türkiye will maintain its support for dialogue and cooperation between Libya's eastern and western regions, as part of Ankara's broader commitment to the country's peace, stability and prosperity. In a statement shared on the Turkish social media platform NSosyal, Fidan detailed his recent diplomatic mission to Libya and expressed gratitude to Libyan officials for their warm reception. He described his meetings in both the capital Tripoli and the eastern city of Benghazi as "extensive and productive," emphasising that the visit embodied Türkiye's "One Libya" approach, which treats all regions of the country—west, east and south—with equal importance.

Libya's stability intertwined with Türkiye's security

Fidan underscored that Ankara views Libya's peace and security as intrinsically linked to its own national interests. "Türkiye does not see Libya's peace and stability as separate from our own," he stated. He reiterated that it is essential for Libyans to build their own future freely, securely and prosperously, and vowed that Türkiye would continue to strengthen dialogue and cooperation across the divided nation. "In line with the vision put forward by our President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, we will continue to support strengthening dialogue and cooperation between Libya's west and east and contribute to Libya's peace, stability and prosperity," he added.

High-level talks in Tripoli

During his visit to the capital, Fidan held talks with Libyan Prime Minister Abd al-Hamid Dbeibeh, covering bilateral relations, the political process, regional developments and security matters. He also met with Mohamed al-Menfi, chairman of the Presidential Council, and Mohamed al-Miftah Takala, chairman of the High Council of State. Additional discussions were conducted with Ibrahim Dbeibeh, the prime minister's national security adviser; acting Defence Minister Abdulsalam Zubi; Interior Minister Emad al-Trabelsi; acting Chief of General Staff Salah al-Namroush; and military intelligence chief Mahmoud Hamza, focusing on enhancing cooperation and addressing shared security concerns.

Engagements in Benghazi and military ties

In Benghazi, Fidan met with Khalifa Haftar, the commander of eastern forces; his deputy, Gen. Saddam Haftar; House of Representatives Speaker Aguila Saleh; and Belkacem Haftar, head of Libya's Development and Reconstruction Fund. The discussions centred on Libya's political and security agenda, as well as opportunities to deepen bilateral cooperation. Fidan stressed that Ankara regards security and defence collaboration as a strategic pillar that can tangibly contribute to Libya's stability and broader regional security. As part of his programme, the foreign minister also visited the Turkish Armed Forces Libya Task Group Command in Tripoli, reaffirming Türkiye's operational commitment to supporting Libyan security forces.