Turkish intelligence chief, Libyan premier discuss unifying rival administrations, military forces

By Tugba Altun and Fatma Zehra Solmaz

ANKARA / ISTANBUL (AA) - Turkish National Intelligence Organization (MIT) chief Ibrahim Kalin met Libyan Prime Minister Abdulhamid Dbeibeh in Tripoli on Tuesday to discuss efforts to unify the country's rival eastern and western administrations and military forces, Turkish security sources said.

The talks focused on maintaining peace, advancing political and military reconciliation and bringing Libya's divided institutions under a unified authority while preserving the country's territorial integrity, according to the sources.

Kalin reaffirmed Türkiye's readiness to support efforts to bridge divisions between Libya's eastern and western regions, stressing that all parties should prioritize the country's future and contribute to national unity.

The two officials also discussed strengthening bilateral cooperation across various fields.

Dbeibeh thanked Türkiye for its efforts to support Libya's security and stability, saying his government was ready to continue working with Ankara to preserve the country's territorial integrity.

The meeting came as Libya's House of Representatives approved a maritime jurisdiction agreement with Türkiye on Tuesday, reversing its previous rejection of the deal.

Kalin thanked Dbeibeh, newly elected House of Representatives Speaker Saleh Abdunnabi and Libyan National Army Deputy Commander-in-Chief Saddam Haftar for their roles in securing approval of the agreement.

Türkiye and Libya signed the maritime delimitation agreement in November 2019, establishing the boundaries of their respective maritime jurisdiction areas in the Mediterranean Sea.

Tuğba Altun