Relationship dossier
Denmark
Libya
Relationship assessment
A relationship marked by the 2011 conflict and subsequent Danish support for Libya's transition
Denmark toward Libya
-15Denmark participated in NATO's 2011 military campaign against the Gaddafi government. After the regime's fall, Denmark supported Libya's political transition, though the scope and continuity of that assistance are unclear.
Libya toward Denmark
-25Under Muammar Gaddafi, Libya recalled its ambassador to Denmark and closed its embassy in Copenhagen in response to the Danish cartoons controversy.
Overall relationship
-15The relationship has been shaped by sharp confrontation during the 2011 NATO campaign and the earlier cartoons dispute, followed by Danish support for Libya's transition. Political changes in Libya make the continuity and breadth of later bilateral cooperation uncertain.
How to read these scores
Scores are rough judgments, not objective measurements or current verification. Directional scores describe government policy and conduct, not public opinion. The overall score is an independent estimate, never an average.
- −100
- Extreme sustained hostility
- −50
- Substantially adversarial
- 0
- Mixed or neutral, supported by knowledge
- +50
- Substantially cooperative
- +100
- Exceptionally close sustained partnership
“Not assessed” means there is no recorded score. Pair existence makes no claim about diplomatic recognition or established relations.
Relationship context
Overview
Relations have included serious confrontation as well as later cooperation. Denmark took part in NATO's 2011 military campaign in Libya and subsequently supported Libya's transition. Under Muammar Gaddafi, Libya reacted to the 2005–06 Danish cartoons controversy by recalling its ambassador and closing its embassy in Copenhagen.
Areas of tension
- Libya's response to the Danish cartoons controversy in 2005–06
- Denmark's participation in the 2011 NATO military campaign in Libya
Key developments
Libya recalled its ambassador to Denmark and closed its embassy in Copenhagen amid the Danish cartoons controversy.
Denmark participated in NATO's military campaign against the Gaddafi government in Libya.
Denmark supported Libya's political transition after the fall of the Gaddafi government.
Major uncertainties
- The scale and continuity of Danish assistance to Libyan governments after 2011 are unclear.
- The extent of direct bilateral engagement following Libya's political fragmentation is unclear.