This week, the Prime Minister of the Government of National Unity (GNU), Abdul Hameed Dabaiba, publicly endorsed the maritime agreement between the predecessor GNA and Turkey, thereby committing to an even closer relationship with Turkey.
On 12 April, the Prime Minister of the GNU Abdul Hameed Dabaiba, along with more than a dozen Libyan ministers and officials, made their first official visit to Ankara. Their meetings culminated with Dabaiba and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan reaffirming their commitment to the 2019 maritime agreement between Turkey and the Government of National Accord (GNA). Dabaiba stated that the maritime deal was ‘valid’, although he recognised the need to initiate a dialogue to consider the interests of all parties involved.
On 12 April, Dabaiba, met the Turkish Minister of Defence, Hulusi Akar, in his role as de facto Libyan Minister of Defence. Akar said that Turkey will continue to provide military and security assistance, training, and advisory support to ensure the stability, independence, and sovereignty of Libya. Akar did not refer to any plan to withdraw the Syrian mercenaries currently in Libya at Turkey’s behest.
On 12 April, the Greek Foreign Minister Nikos Dendias visited Benghazi to hold meetings with Libyan officials, including the Speaker of the House of Representatives Aqeela Saleh and the Deputy Prime Minister of the GNU, Hussein Qatrani. Dendias opened Greece’s consulate in the city and met representatives from the local Greek community. Dendias thanked Qatrani for his ‘frank statement on the illegal ‘memorandum’ signed by the GNA Administration and Turkey on maritime zones’ and for ‘reminding me of what we already knew: the decision of the House of Representatives not to ratify this illegal ‘memorandum’.’