When will Libya's Haftar visit Türkiye?

A new, “game-changing” phase has begun between Türkiye and Libya. The “partnership” that has continued with the Tripoli administration is now entering a new stage with Khalifa Haftar’s leadership. Mutual visits are taking place, economic partnerships are being built, long-term plans are underway, and a new scene is opening in Türkiye’s power game in the Mediterranean and Africa.So why was this policy shift needed? As Türkiye expands into Eastern Libya after forming a “partnership” with the Tripoli administration, what is it planning? Why has Khalifa Haftar turned toward Türkiye? How did all the doors suddenly open wide?

Will this rapprochement lead to Libya’s reunification? What is changing across the vast region from Sudan to Libya?

FROM CENTRAL AFRICA TO THE MEDITERRANEAN; TÜRKİYE IS THE BIGGEST PLAYER…A PARTNERSHIP AGAINST COLONIALISM!

As Türkiye discusses its intervention in Sudan—where atrocities amounting to genocide have taken place and civil war rages—Ethiopia is building up in the Somaliland port, and Egypt in the Eritrean port. The great power struggle in Central and North Africa is intensifying rapidly.

In these power games, every step and every move goes beyond individual countries and triggers tremors across much of Africa. This is why every move by Türkiye—one of the region’s most important players—is closely watched.

The foundational principles of Türkiye’s rapprochement with regional countries, built on “partnerships” against colonialism, have now become established. Alongside this, Türkiye has demonstrated extremely agile maneuvering capacity—dynamic, quick to adapt, and proven in practice.

Central African countries have expelled all Western powers, especially France. A “revolutionary transformation” has created a powerful wave capable of reshaping African history. In this space, Türkiye has stood—and will continue to stand—beside Central African countries as a central supporting power. In particular, it has opened—and will continue to open—its military technology to these countries.

THE GATE OF CENTRAL AFRICA IS LIBYA! TÜRKİYE CANNOT DO THIS WITHOUT LIBYA… ONE STATE, ONE ARMY, ONE LIBYA…

But Central Africa cannot be imagined without Libya. One of the reasons Gaddafi was toppled was Libya’s influence over Central African countries. This is why France and Sarkozy launched those globally provocative attacks.

Libya is a vast Mediterranean country—more than twice the size of Türkiye. It holds some of the world’s largest oil and natural gas reserves. It is rich in groundwater and minerals. This country, whose resources could sustain all of Central Africa, must be rescued from division, instability, and the pillage threats posed by Western countries.

Libya is not only a Mediterranean country—it is the biggest gateway to Central Africa. From Sudan to Mali to Chad, the stability of the Sahel countries depends on Libya’s stability. For this reason, Libya must be strengthened, equipped with a strong army, its wealth directed toward its own development, its population increased, a central administration established, and central authority significantly reinforced.

THE DIVISION OF LIBYA IS A DEADLY THREAT. TÜRKİYE SAW THE DANGER AND ACTED!

Libya, devastated by civil war and dragged into chaos despite its immense wealth, must now recover. One fact is clear: the division of Libya and Sudan would bring ruin not only to those two countries but to all of Central Africa. Therefore, just as Türkiye mobilized for Sudan’s unity, it must mobilize for Libya’s reunification.

It should never be forgotten that Türkiye is the only true stabilizing force for these countries. This is also the foundation of our regional policy. A closer relationship only with western Libya—the Tripoli administration—while keeping “distance” from the East is dangerous for Türkiye as well, and this danger grows with the movement across Central Africa.

This threat must have been recognized, as the recent rapprochement between Türkiye and Haftar’s administration has become striking. The warm interest directed from Benghazi toward Ankara, Türkiye’s prioritizing the “deadly importance” of Libya’s unity, and the increase in contacts, visits, and economic agreements all reflect this shift.

THE US AND EUROPE ARE PUSHING “FEDERATION”

Delegations are arriving in Türkiye one after another, major agreements are being signed between Benghazi and Turkish companies, and Haftar’s administration is directly pressuring the Libyan House of Representatives to approve the Maritime Jurisdiction Agreement we signed with Libya.

The Tripoli administration’s appearance as being effectively held hostage by the US and Europe, the unfair distribution of Central Bank resources and their transfer to the West, and the US-European push for federation instead of Libyan unity—along with various forms of “blackmail”—are all forcing urgent action for Libya.

İBRAHİM KALIN IN BENGHAZI, BELKASSEM IN ANKARA…THE FOUNDATIONS OF A GEOPOLITICAL PARTNERSHIP ARE BEING LAID

And action is being taken. On August 26, MİT Chief İbrahim Kalın met with Haftar. The TCG Kınalıada and military officials visited the Benghazi port in August 2025. Libya’s Armed Forces aligned with Haftar also took part in these meetings and visits. This shows not only political and economic but military rapprochement as well.

While looking at the friendly photo of MİT Chief Kalın with Haftar’s eldest son, Belkassem, in Benghazi—and following Belkassem’s visit to Ankara and his meeting with Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan—we see the foundations of a strong future being laid between Türkiye and Eastern Libya. You realize this is not just about economics but about geopolitical priorities.

A HIGHWAY FROM BENGHAZI TO CENTRAL AFRICA...LIBYA IS REJOINING THE WORLD…

Because we usually view Libya through Tripoli, we haven’t closely followed what is happening in Eastern Libya. Let me share a few points: after long years of conflict, Libya is returning powerfully to the regional and international stage. Oil production has stabilized, and massive development projects are underway.

All of these processes are being coordinated by Haftar’s son, Belkassem. In just two years: hundreds of new schools, dozens of hospitals and health centers, hundreds of kilometers of roads, and housing for thousands of families have been built.

A new highway is being constructed to link Benghazi to the depths of Africa. Thanks to this project, goods arriving from Türkiye at the Port of Benghazi will reach Central African countries within 3–4 days.

The relationship between Türkiye and Haftar’s administration is being conducted with a mission that goes beyond what the public sees—constructive, lasting, and unifying for Libya. The future of the vast region spanning Sudan, Central Africa, and Libya (the Mediterranean) may depend on this rapprochement and on transforming Libya into one state, one army, one strong central authority.

TÜRKİYE ACHIEVED EVERYTHING BY BREAKING ALL OLD PATTERNS...LIBYA NEEDS A STRONG ARMY

Over the past two decades, Türkiye has expanded its influence by breaking century-old assumptions. Türkiye is a country without prejudice, with an open heart and mind. It acts with geopolitical reasoning, not day-to-day calculations, anticipating every detail of the shifting global power balance.

Therefore, the Tripoli-Benghazi divide must end. Libya’s collapse must be prevented. A strong state must be built. Beyond economic and political support, Türkiye should be Libya’s strongest supporter internationally. A strong Libyan army is only possible with Türkiye’s centuries-old experience.

In that case, Libya’s Armed Forces can be transformed into a strong army through this approach. Otherwise, the country cannot stand. The plunder of Libya’s resources by US-European companies must be prevented. The country’s nationalization must be supported.

HAFTAR SHOULD BE INVITED TO TÜRKİYE

Most of the country is under Haftar’s control. Most of the resources are in this region. Therefore, the new process initiated with Haftar’s administration must evolve into a kind of reconstruction—into the vision of a Strong Libya.

Türkiye is ready, Libya is ready; this is a necessity for the future of Central Africa. Then, for the transformation of public perception, media and information management must be strengthened. Global power dynamics are shifting so fast that only those with open minds will be able to cross this bridge.

Inviting Khalifa Haftar to Türkiye, turning the East-West partnership into a central power, and urgently establishing Türkiye’s constructive and peace-oriented partnership across the region are essential. Türkiye secured all its gains by breaking the mental patterns the West imposed on us for a century. Now is the time to do this in Libya.

I believe it is time to invite Haftar to Türkiye.