Newsletters
Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan will begin a two-day official visit to Libya, holding talks in Tripoli and Benghazi on bilateral ties, Libya's political process and regional developments, Foreign Ministry sources said.
Fidan will discuss strengthening Türkiye-Libya relations on the basis of historic ties and mutual benefit, particularly in politics, trade, energy, military, and defense cooperation.
He will also exchange views on Libya's political process, underline the importance Türkiye places on the country's stability, and convey that Ankara is closely following U.S. initiatives and the U.N.-led political process.
Additionally, Fidan aims to address Türkiye's possible contribution to Libyan-owned and Libyan-led steps toward lasting peace and calm.
Under Türkiye's "One Libya" policy, Fidan will reaffirm Ankara's approach of maintaining dialogue with authorities across western, eastern and southern Libya.
He is also expected to stress the importance of protecting Türkiye and Libya's shared rights and interests in the Eastern Mediterranean through a win-win approach.
Energy cooperation will feature prominently in the meetings, along with Türkiye's desire to deepen existing cooperation and develop new projects.
Fidan is likely to emphasize that the safe and sustainable operation of Turkish companies in Libya, particularly in construction, remains vital to expanding economic and commercial ties.
The talks will also cover Palestine, the Gulf, and the Strait of Hormuz. Fidan plans to advocate for addressing regional issues through dialogue, diplomacy, regional ownership, and joint efforts, while highlighting the strategic role of military and defense cooperation.
Furthermore, he will call for stronger efforts toward sustainable peace in Palestine and a principled, determined, and unified international stance.
Türkiye and Libya share longstanding historical, cultural and human ties, with Ankara seeking to deepen relations while supporting lasting peace, stability and security in Libya.
High-level visits have continued, most recently when President Recep Tayyip Erdogan received Libyan Government of National Unity Prime Minister Abdulhamid Dibeybe on April 18, 2026, during the Antalya Diplomacy Forum.
Türkiye says its "One Libya" policy prioritizes Libya's unity, territorial integrity and cohesion while maintaining dialogue with all sides.
Ankara also supports U.N. efforts for credible, fair and transparent elections and says political steps should remain Libyan-owned and Libyan-led.
Türkiye is also supporting efforts to unify Libya's military institutions. Personnel from western and eastern Libya participated in the EFES 2026 exercise from April 11 to May 21, a development regarded as a significant step toward that goal.
Türkiye-Libya trade reached $3.5 billion in 2025, while Libya remains an important market for Turkish companies despite fragile conditions.
The 22nd Türkiye-Libya Joint Economic Commission meeting was held in Tripoli on Jan. 24, 2026.
Turkish contractors, whose first overseas project was in Libya in 1972, have undertaken 633 projects in the country worth $31 billion, making Libya Türkiye's fourth-largest market by number of overseas contracting projects.
More than 40 Turkish projects worth over $2.3 billion are currently underway in Libya.
Energy ties are also expanding. In February 2026, Turkish Petroleum Corporation (TPAO) won the right to jointly operate two oil fields in Libya's first licensing tender in 17 years.
The agreement covering the fields was signed in Tripoli on June 15, 2026.
Set as preferred source
Set as preferred source
2 min read
1 min read
