On 29 January, the Government of National Unity’s (GNU) Ministry of Defense Undersecretary for Regions and Military Affairs Major General Abdussalam Zoubi was received in Ankara by Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan at the beginning of a series of high-level talks in the Turkish capital. The meeting focused primarily on deepening the military and defense partnership between the two nations. Key areas of discussion included institutional development of the Libyan Army, and the unification of the Libyan Army and the Libyan National Army (LNA). They explored mechanisms to enhance training and capacity-building programmes, aiming to modernize Libya’s defense capabilities.
Zoubi outlined the GNU’s strategic priorities for the upcoming phase, specifically focusing on the ongoing efforts to unify and rebuild Libya’s national military establishment. Moreover, the two senior political leaders exchanged perspectives on regional security challenges, emphasizing that continued diplomatic and security coordination is essential for maintaining stability in the area. The session concluded with a mutual commitment to maintain ongoing consultations to ensure that bilateral cooperation effectively serves the interests of both Turkey and Libya.
On 30 January, Turkish Defense Minister Yaşar Güler hosted Zoubi at the MoD in Ankara. Brigadier General Mukhtar Osman, Assistant Chief of Staff of the Air Force, was a member of Zoubi’s delegation. The meeting focused on the practical implementation of the Turkish-Libyan defense cooperation and the expansion of those bilateral military ties. On operational training, both parties committed to advancing training and capacity-building programmes for the Libyan Army, ensuring these initiatives remain strictly aligned with existing legal agreements and official frameworks between the two nations.
Güler and Zoubi discussed deepening the exchange of technical expertise and improving the direct institutional coordination between the Libyan and Turkish defense ministries. A significant portion of the talks was dedicated to reviewing current cooperation projects, with a focus on bolstering the capabilities of Libya’s military institutions to serve mutual interests and regional security. Güler and Zoubi concluded the meeting by reaffirming that continuous consultation is vital for supporting regional stability and ensuring that military development proceeds within recognized legal structures.
On 31 January, Turkey’s Chief of General Staff Selçuk Bayraktaroğlu received Zoubi at the HQ of the Turkish General Staff in Ankara for official talks about military cooperation and regional security. The meeting focused on training provided by the Turkish Armed Forces to the Libyan Army in Turkey and in Libya. They reviewed the performance of ongoing training cycles, including for Libyan officer cadets and special forces. Moreover, Bayraktaroğlu and Zoubi held an in-depth exchange on the security situation in the greater Tripoli area, the stability of the ceasefire in Libya, regional security threats, particularly focused on border security and counter-terrorism coordination in North Africa and the Mediterranean.
On the same day, Zoubi visited the Albayrak Group, where he explored opportunities to deepen economic and defense‑related cooperation between the two countries. During the meeting, Zoubi highlighted Libya’s interest in attracting Turkish investment and noted that Tripoli closely follows Albayrak Group’s projects across Africa. He encouraged the company to expand its activities into Libya. Senior Albayrak executives, Chairman Ahmet Albayrak, Vice Chairman Nuri Albayrak, and Board Member Faruk Albayrak, participated in the discussions. Zoubi also toured Albayrak Media, where he was briefed by Yeni Şafak’s International News Director Omer Kablan on the organization’s media operations. He expressed appreciation for their work and congratulated the team on their achievements.