Turkey and Eastern Libyan Authorities Boost Military Cooperation

Turkey is deepening its military engagement with the de facto authorities in eastern Libya, signaling a strategic shift from mere dialogue to active technical and military cooperation with the Libyan National Army (LNA) led by Khalifa Haftar. This move is seen by some as potentially raising concerns for neighboring countries, particularly Egypt, a key ally of Haftar.

However, reports suggest that rather than escalating tensions, this dynamic is leading to closer coordination between Turkey and Egypt on Libyan affairs. Sources indicate that the cooperation between Ankara and the eastern Libyan command encompasses the development of military facilities, the installation of sophisticated monitoring radar systems, and training programs for Libyan officers in Turkey, involving Turkish defense companies. Saddam Haftar, the Deputy Commander of the eastern forces, reportedly led discussions on this cooperation with Turkey's Defense Minister and Chief of Staff.

While official statements have not explicitly detailed the construction of military bases or the deployment of drones, the deepening relationship points to increasingly close technical collaboration. Notably, Cairo has not expressed overt concern. According to one source, Turkey's actions in Libya are undertaken in coordination with Egyptian authorities, which helps to de-escalate potential friction between the two nations. Samir Ragheb, Director of the Arab Foundation for Development Strategic Studies, stated that Egyptian-Turkish coordination has reached its highest level, including in the military sphere.

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every step taken by Turkey in Libya is done through coordination with the Egyptian authorities.

Ragheb further suggested that Turkey's engagement with Haftar's forces could serve Egypt's strategic interests, particularly in limiting the LNA's support for the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) in Sudan's civil war. Ankara's presence in eastern Libya is also viewed as filling a vacuum that could otherwise be exploited by regional actors whose interests conflict with Egypt's in the Horn of Africa. The potential establishment of a Turkish military base in southern Libya is not perceived as a threat due to its distance from the Egyptian border, and it could instead foster security coordination in the Sahel and Sahara regions.

A primary driver for Ankara's policy is reportedly its pursuit of recognition from the eastern Libyan authorities for the 2019 maritime boundary agreement signed with Libya's Government of National Accord (GNA). Egypt has not objected to this maritime delimitation.

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Egyptian-Turkish coordination has reached its highest level, including in the military sphere.