On 22 July, Turkey’s Defence Minister Yaşar Güler received Lieutenant General Saddam Khalifa Haftar, Chief of Staff of the Libyan National Army (LNA) Ground Forces, in Istanbul on the sidelines of the International Defence Industry Fair (IDEF) 25 defense expo in a friendly atmosphere. Saddam Haftar also met with General Metin Gürak, Chief of the Turkish General Staff, and the Commander of the Turkish Land Forces, General Selçuk Bayraktaroğlu. The meetings focused on prospects for enhancing joint military cooperation between the two sides, the exchange of expertise in the area of defense, and regional developments of mutual interest.
On the same day, Major General Mahmoud Hamza (Commander of the 444 Brigade) visited IDEF 25 in his capacity as Director (Libyan Army) of Military Intelligence. He met with Gürak and with Lieutenant General Yaşar Kadıoğlu, head of military intelligence. Talks focused on strengthening bilateral military cooperation, including several concrete joint projects, and regional and international developments of mutual concern. Both sides emphasized the significance of enhanced security cooperation between Turkey and Libya to bolster regional stability and to increase Libya´s national defense capabilities. Hamza also met several officials from the Turkish defense industry.