Relationship dossier
Turkey
Libya
Relationship assessment
Turkey’s close partnership with Tripoli-based authorities is complicated by Libya’s political division and opposition to key agreements.
Turkey toward Libya
+35Turkey signed maritime-boundary and security cooperation agreements with Libya’s Tripoli-based Government of National Accord in 2019 and provided military support that helped it repel Khalifa Haftar’s forces. Turkey later signed an energy cooperation memorandum with Libya’s Government of National Unity. These ties have drawn opposition from authorities in eastern Libya.
Libya toward Turkey
+25Tripoli-based Libyan authorities have cooperated with Turkey through the 2019 maritime-boundary and security agreements and a 2022 energy cooperation memorandum. Libya’s divided institutions limit the extent to which these arrangements represent a consistent national policy; eastern authorities have rejected key agreements with Turkey.
Overall relationship
+25The relationship combines close security and economic cooperation between Turkey and Tripoli-based authorities with persistent disagreement over Turkey’s role and the legitimacy of bilateral agreements. Libya’s political division, including rejection of key agreements by eastern authorities, is a defining constraint on the partnership.
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
Turkey has developed close security and economic ties with Libya’s internationally recognized authorities in Tripoli, including through maritime, security and energy agreements. Turkish military support helped those authorities during the conflict with Khalifa Haftar’s forces. Libya’s divided political institutions complicate the relationship: eastern authorities have rejected key agreements and opposed Turkey’s military role.
Areas of tension
- Eastern Libyan authorities have rejected the 2019 maritime-boundary agreement with Turkey.
- Turkey’s military presence and support for Tripoli-based authorities have been opposed by eastern Libyan authorities.
- The maritime agreement has drawn objections from other eastern Mediterranean governments.
Key developments
Turkey and Libya’s Tripoli-based Government of National Accord signed maritime-boundary and security cooperation agreements.
Turkey and Libya’s Government of National Unity signed a memorandum on energy cooperation, including exploration.
Major uncertainties
- The scope and implementation of Turkey’s security and energy arrangements with Tripoli-based authorities are unclear.
- Libya’s political division makes the consistency of national policy toward Turkey uncertain.