On 12 August, Turkish Minister of Foreign Affairs Hakan Fidan arrived at Benghazi-Benina where he was officially received by Libyan National Army (LNA) Deputy Commander Lieutenant General Saddam Haftar.
Fidan’s principal encounter was with LNA Commander Field Marshal Khalifa Haftar. The meeting was attended by Saddam Haftar and by LNA Chief of Staff Lieutenant General Khaled Haftar. Khalifa Haftar welcomed Fidan, praised the role of Turkish companies in reconstruction and the rise in bilateral trade, and stressed the strength of Libyan–Turkish relations. Fidan, in turn, offered condolences over the recent killing of LNA military intelligence director Major General Fawzi al-Mansouri and expressed appreciation for Haftar. He said Ankara considers the visit as a continuation of efforts to develop bilateral ties and support the unification of Libyan institutions. The minister reiterated Turkey’s support for international efforts, including the U.S. initiative, aimed at institutional unity and lasting stability.
Thereafter, Fidan held a separate meeting with House of Representatives (HoR) Speaker Aqeela Saleh at Saleh’s office in Benghazi. The meeting was also attended by Yusuf al-Agouri, chair of the HoR’s Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Committee. They discussed the latest political developments, pathways to end Libya’s prolonged institutional split, and the need to unify state institutions and move toward presidential and parliamentary elections. Saleh welcomed Turkish participation in reconstruction and development projects in eastern and southern Libya via the Libya Development and Reconstruction Fund (LDRF). Fidan reiterated again Ankara’s readiness to support dialogue between east and west and to play a constructive, mediating role coordinated with the United States, Egypt and other regional actors.
Finally, Fidan met with Belqasim Haftar, Director General of the LDRF. They discussed expanding areas of joint cooperation, enhancing the participation of specialized Turkish companies in reconstruction and development projects overseen by the Fund in several Libyan cities, and making use of Turkish expertise and capabilities to support Libya’s rebuilding efforts. Following their talks, Belqasim Haftar accompanied Fidan and his delegation to the Omar al Mukhtar Mausoleum and Shrine in Benghazi, which were completed in 2021, for a ceremonial visit before seeing them off at Benina Airport.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan reaffirmed after Fidan’s visit that Turkey’s relationship with Libya remains stable and that Ankara will not abandon the country, signaling sustained engagement as diplomatic efforts intensify to reduce Libya’s political fragmentation. Ankara’s ‘One Libya’ policy aims at promoting dialogue, stability and prosperity across all regions of Libya.