Turkey has intensified diplomatic efforts to reunify Libya's rival eastern and western administrations, hosting negotiations aimed at establishing a unified military command and government capable of managing the country's vast natural resources.
The latest talks, held in Ankara on Friday and Saturday, ended without a final agreement, as disagreements persisted over the structure of the military leadership and its relationship with civilian political authorities, Libyan sources familiar with the discussions told The New Arab.
Saddam Haftar, deputy commander of the eastern-based military leadership, and Abdulsalam al-Zoubi, undersecretary at the defence ministry of the Tripoli-based Government of National Unity, arrived in Ankara on Friday evening for Turkish-sponsored negotiations.
The discussions centred on a draft agreement to unify Libya's institutions, although the two sides remained divided over whether the deal should focus exclusively on military and technical arrangements or extend to senior political positions, including the Presidential Council.
Sources said the negotiations produced broad understandings on the structure of a unified military institution, but no decisive breakthrough.
Both delegations agreed to consult their respective leaderships in Tripoli and Benghazi before resuming negotiations, although no date has been set for further talks.
The initiative comes as Ankara seeks to consolidate its influence across Libya, strengthen its position in the eastern Mediterranean and secure the future of a controversial maritime boundary agreement signed with Tripoli in 2019.
The agreement has faced opposition from Greece, Egypt and other regional actors over competing maritime claims.
The Benghazi-based House of Representatives' approval of the maritime agreement has been viewed as an important step in Turkey's efforts to build closer relations with eastern Libya, after years of maintaining stronger ties with the Tripoli authorities.
Erdogan calls for Libyan unity
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan reiterated Ankara's opposition to Libya's continued division on Monday, saying his government wanted to see unity and solidarity across the country.
Speaking after a cabinet meeting, Erdogan said Turkey was working to reduce regional disputes and expand cooperation.
He also defended the 2019 maritime agreement, rejecting suggestions that Ankara was seeking to undermine other countries' interests in the eastern Mediterranean.
"Our policy towards the eastern Mediterranean is completely clear. We are not seeking to score goals against any party in the eastern Mediterranean," Erdogan said.
He maintained that Turkey was seeking to protect its maritime jurisdiction, rights and interests while advocating dialogue to resolve disputes.
Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan also acknowledged Egyptian reservations about the maritime agreement last Friday, calling for dialogue to address Cairo's concerns.
Turkey's renewed engagement with both Libyan camps comes as the country's oil resources attract growing international attention, particularly as the war involving Iran and the closure of the Strait of Hormuz disrupt energy supplies and push up global prices.
A unified Libyan government could help stabilise oil production and exports to European markets, although significant political and security obstacles remain.
Ankara also hopes to expand commercial and investment opportunities, particularly in construction and infrastructure, sectors in which Turkish companies have historically maintained a substantial presence in Libya.
Military leadership remains major obstacle
Turkish researcher and writer Cahit Tuz told The New Arab that Ankara viewed Libya as a single state and opposed its permanent division.
He said Turkey's priorities included preserving Libya's territorial integrity, establishing a single administration and ensuring that the country's natural resources benefited its population.
Tuz argued that Turkey's diplomatic efforts had already produced tangible results, pointing to the eastern parliament's approval of the maritime agreement as evidence of improving relations.
He also claimed that some regional and international actors, including Israel, were uncomfortable with Turkey's expanding influence in Libya.
Journalist and political commentator Hamza Tekin told The New Arab that Ankara's approach had evolved from working primarily with one Libyan faction to establishing direct relationships with influential political and military figures on both sides.
He said this shift had helped Turkey reopen channels of dialogue between Tripoli and Benghazi.
"Turkey's efforts in Libya stem from a fundamental conviction that the continuation of political and institutional division does not serve Libyans," Tekin said.
He argued that Ankara was seeking to create the conditions for a unified Libyan state rather than merely bringing rival factions together for negotiations.
However, he warned that the central challenge was translating broad agreement on reunification into workable arrangements.
"The real test begins when determining who will assume military command, how responsibilities will be distributed, which political authority the institutions will answer to, and how to ensure that no single party monopolises power," he said.
Tekin stressed that any lasting agreement would depend on the willingness of Libyan factions to compromise and avoid turning institutional reunification into another arrangement for dividing political influence.
He said Turkey's expanding contacts with both camps offered an opportunity for progress, but cautioned that a sustainable settlement must reflect the will of Libyans rather than an externally imposed agreement.
Libya has remained politically divided for years, with rival authorities and competing military structures obstructing efforts to establish a unified government.