Turkey’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs has acknowledged significant obstacles hindering the implementation of key security and economic agreements with the Libyan Government of National Unity (GNU).
These agreements, which had already expired, face roadblocks due to political divisions and the absence of approval from Libya’s House of Representatives.
In a recent meeting with the Turkish Parliament’s Foreign Affairs Committee, Muhammad Fadil Shukirji, head of the Libyan office at the Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs, outlined the challenges.
“Although the Government of National Unity has signed several cooperation agreements with Turkey, the House of Representatives has blocked the ratification process,” he stated.
He specifically highlighted the 2022 agreement on oil exploration and drilling, which has faced resistance from the House of Representatives.
A local court recently ruled to suspend the implementation of this agreement due to legal concerns.
Shukirji pointed out that the ongoing political conflict between the House of Representatives and the outgoing GNU government in Tripoli is the main barrier to executing these agreements.
Under Libyan law, any major agreements, especially those involving national resources, must receive parliamentary approval, a process that has been stymied by the House’s refusal to back the government’s actions.
Utku Jakirozer, an opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) member of the Turkish Parliament, shared insights from discussions with representatives of the Libyan Parliament, who had recently visited Ankara.
He said, “The House of Representatives questions the legitimacy of the unity government.”
He further emphasized that some agreements, such as the memorandum on oil drilling activities, have not been approved by the Libyan Parliament and are thus legally disputed.
Noah Yilmaz, Turkey’s Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, addressed the “legal complexities” facing Turkey’s presence in Libya.
He reaffirmed Turkey’s commitment to respecting Libyan sovereignty but acknowledged that the political divisions within Libya restrict the effective implementation of bilateral agreements.
“Turkey recognizes the GNU led by Abdul Hamid Dabaiba as the legitimate government, but the realization of these agreements hinges on resolving Libya’s internal power struggles,” he said.
The deepening ties between Turkey and the Libyan government, particularly through military cooperation, have grown more apparent.
In late 2023, the Turkish Parliament extended the mandate for Turkish military forces in Libya for another two years.
Furthermore, Turkey has shown keen interest in investing in Libya’s oil and gas sectors.
In 2020, President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan announced plans to expand economic cooperation, focusing on exploring the country’s natural and petroleum resources.
However, the political impasse continues to cloud the future of these ambitious agreements.
