Turkiye’s National Intelligence Organization (MIT) Chief İbrahim Kalın made a surprise visit to Libya, meeting with Khalifa Haftar, the commander of the country’s eastern forces, in Benghazi. This marks the first significant direct engagement between Ankara and Benghazi in recent years and highlights Turkiye’s effort to engage with all sides in Libya’s divided political landscape.
The talks focused on Turkiye-Libya relations and potential cooperation in military and security matters. Senior officials from the Libyan National Army accompanied Haftar during the meeting. The discussions reportedly touched on ways to support Libya’s goal of unifying its armed forces under the “Single Libya, Single Army” initiative.
Kalın’s visit follows increased diplomatic activity between the two countries. On August 1, President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan met with Prime Minister Abdulhamid Dbeibeh of the Libyan Government of National Unity in Istanbul, reflecting Turkiye’s broad engagement with both factions in Libya.
The trip also included a military dimension. The Turkish Navy’s TCG Kınalıada corvette visited the Port of Benghazi, where Turkish and Libyan military delegations met for discussions. The Turkish team was led by Major General İlkay Altındağ, Director General of Defense and Security, while General Saddam Haftar, Deputy Commander of the LNA and head of its Land Forces, led the Libyan side. After the meetings, General Haftar toured the TCG Kınalıada, reinforcing the ties between the two militaries.
Observers note that the visit is an important step in Ankara’s Libya policy. By engaging directly with Haftar, Turkiye signals its willingness to maintain open channels with all Libyan stakeholders while advancing its regional security and strategic interests. The combination of diplomacy, intelligence, and military engagement reflects Turkiye’s proactive approach to shaping stability in the region.
