Relationship dossier
Libya
United Arab Emirates
Relationship assessment
Diplomatic engagement alongside deep disagreements over the UAE’s role in Libya’s civil war
Libya toward United Arab Emirates
-10The Government of National Accord criticized the UAE’s support for Khalifa Haftar’s forces during the civil war. Libyan officials later engaged diplomatically with the UAE, including under the Government of National Unity, reflecting a shift toward renewed contact.
United Arab Emirates toward Libya
-40The UAE supported Khalifa Haftar’s forces during the civil war, including through military assistance that drew criticism from Libya’s internationally recognized government. The UAE also maintained diplomatic engagement with Libyan authorities, including renewed contacts after the formation of the Government of National Unity.
Overall relationship
-25The relationship has been shaped by a major divergence over Libya’s civil war: Emirati support for Haftar’s forces opposed the position of the internationally recognized government. Subsequent diplomatic engagement has moderated, but not erased, that conflictual legacy; Libya’s political fragmentation also complicates the durability of bilateral ties.
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 combined diplomatic engagement with serious conflict over the UAE’s support for Khalifa Haftar’s forces during Libya’s civil war. Libya’s internationally recognized Government of National Accord criticized Emirati involvement, while Libyan officials later pursued renewed diplomatic engagement with the UAE. Libya’s fragmented political authority and changes in government complicate a single, continuous account of its policy.
Areas of tension
- The UAE’s military and political support for Khalifa Haftar’s forces during Libya’s civil war.
- Disputes over foreign military involvement and arms-embargo violations in Libya.
Key developments
The Government of National Accord criticized Emirati support for Khalifa Haftar’s forces during the conflict.
Libyan officials pursued renewed diplomatic engagement with the UAE after the formation of the Government of National Unity.
Major uncertainties
- The extent to which later diplomatic engagement produced durable bilateral agreements is unclear.
- Libya’s divided political institutions make the continuity and authority of its foreign policy uncertain.