12 – 18 August: German FM leads diplomatic initiative

Aug 19, 2020 | International actors

On 17 August, a German delegation led by Foreign Minister Heiko Maas began a two-day trip to Tripoli and Abu Dhabi to ‘make progress on the conflict in Libya.’ The delegation met with Government of National Accord (GNA) senior officials in Tripoli, including the Minister of Interior Fathi Bashaagha and the Minister of Foreign Affairs Mohamed Taher Siyala. On 17-18 August, Maas is expected to travel to Abu Dhabi to meet with his Emirati counterpart Abdullah bin Zayed al-Nahyan.

Also on 17 August, Qatari Defence Minister, Khaled al-Attiyah, Turkish Defence Minister Hulusi Akar and Turkish Chief of Staff, General Yasar Guler, travelled to Tripoli to meet with senior GNA officials. At the meeting, they reportedly signed a tripartite deal of military cooperation that would see an increase in the capabilities of the GNA-aligned Libyan military forces. Namroush claimed that Qatar would provide military advisers for the purpose of training Libyan forces as well as hosting cadets in Qatari and Turkish military colleges, while also stating that the three countries had agreed that a political solution is the only way out of Libya’s current crisis.

Also on 17 August, Russian President Vladimir Putin and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan held a phone call where the two primarily discussed Libya and the need for a maintained ceasefire. On 14 August, Russia Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson Maria Zakharova claimed during a weekly press conference that Russia and Turkey would be holding negotiations on Libya in August or September.

On 12 August, US Ambassador to Libya Richard Norland visited Ankara, where he met with senior Turkish officials to discuss steps to achieve a militarised solution for central Libya, realise a full and reciprocal withdrawal of foreign forces and mercenaries, enable the National Oil Corporation (NOC) to resume its work and promote economic transparency and reforms.