The de-facto ruler of eastern Libya, Khalifa Haftar, is planning to visit Turkiye later this month after improving relations with Ankara over the past year, according to Turkish, Libyan, and Egyptian sources familiar with the matter who spoke to Middle East Eye, APA reports, citing Middle East Eye.
Haftar is the commander of the Libyan Arab Armed Forces (LAAF), which controls Benghazi, the country’s second-largest city.
Last week, he hosted Turkish intelligence chief Ibrahim Kalin, the first senior-level engagement between the two sides.
Three sources told MEE that during Kalin’s visit, he invited Haftar to travel to Turkiye to symbolise a thaw in relations.
Haftar agreed in principle to visit later in September, though the exact date could be postponed depending on developments on the ground, which remain fluid.
The rapprochement is particularly significant given that Turkiye has supported his Tripoli-based rivals in recent years.
In 2019, Haftar launched an offensive against the western Libyan administration, then known as the Government of National Accord (GNA).
Ankara deployed special forces, Syrian fighters, frigates and heavy weaponry to defend Tripoli against Haftar’s forces, which were backed by Emirati drones, as well as Wagner Group Russian mercenaries.
With Turkish support, the GNA successfully repelled the assault on the capital, and a fragile front line between the two rival authorities was eventually established in Sirte, which remains under Haftar’s control.
High-level contacts now come as Turkiye lobbies the Tobruk-based, Haftar-aligned parliament to ratify a 2019 maritime delimitation agreement signed with the Government of National Unity (GNU), a UN-recognised administration that succeeded the GNA.
MEE previously reported that Greece and Egypt pressed Haftar against approving the deal.
Greece and Turkiye have long been at odds over competing maritime claims in the Mediterranean.
In 2020, Greece and Egypt signed their own maritime deal to counter the one signed by Turkiye and the government in Tripoli.
Egypt asked US Africa envoy Massad Boulos to push Haftar to refuse to ratify the deal with Turkiye earlier this summer, MEE revealed.
In subsequent weeks, Cairo has continued to lobby Haftar against backing the deal, which one Egyptian official told MEE appears to infringe on the maritime zone Cairo staked out with Greece in 2020.
Haftar’s son and right-hand man, Saddam, has played a key role in extending the family's relationships beyond its traditional backers the UAE and Egypt.
“The visit underscores efforts by Saddam to expand Haftar’s network of allies, including his previous meetings with Qatari officials,” a Libyan source familiar with the talks said.
Last year, Saddam attended Turkiye’s IDEF defence fair, where he met the Turkish defence minister and other officials. Saddam also visited Qatar earlier this year to discuss investments in eastern Libya.
In April, Saddam traveled to Ankara for talks with the defence minister and senior Turkish commanders. Earlier this year, he was promoted to LAAF deputy commander and designated as his father’s successor.
While Kalin visited Benghazi, Turkish naval vessel TCG Kinaliada docked at the city's port.
A Turkish military delegation led by Major General Ilkay Altindag met with Saddam to discuss strengthening military and naval cooperation and exchanging technical expertise under the slogan “One Libya, One Army”.
Khalifa Haftar later boarded the ship in a reciprocal visit, stressing the “deep historical ties between the Libyan and Turkish naval forces”.
Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan on Friday said that he also could visit Benghazi in coming months, depending on the eastern Libyan government taking some steps in a positive direction, declining to detail Ankara's expectations.
