Türkiye, Libya discuss reopening of Turkish consulate in Benghazi PHOTO

Saddam Khalifa Haftar, commander of the ground forces of the Libyan National Army associated with the administration in eastern Libya, met with the Turkish consul Serkan Karmanlıoğlu to discuss the reopening of the Turkish consulate in the Libyan city of Benghazi.

Saddam Haftar is also the son of Khalifa Haftar, the military leader who rules eastern Libya, Caliber.Az reports, citing Turkish media. 

Lieutenant General Hayri al-Tamimi, a senior military official in Haftar’s administration, was also present at the meeting, which took place at the Gaskari Center in Rajma, near Benghazi.

Sources say the parties discussed a range of common issues, particularly preparations for resuming the operation of the Turkish consulate in Benghazi to provide consular services to Libyan citizens in the eastern part of the country. This meeting marks another step in the recent rapid development of relations between Türkiye and the eastern Libyan administration.

Relations between Ankara and Khalifa Haftar’s government in eastern Libya have significantly warmed in recent months after many years of political and military rivalry.

Saddam Haftar’s visit to Ankara in April was seen as an important turning point. During the visit, Haftar met with Defence Minister Yaşar Güler and senior representatives of the Turkish Armed Forces, demonstrating readiness for future cooperation.

The reopening of the consulate in Benghazi is not only a technical event but also a full guarantee of the maritime jurisdiction agreement signed between Türkiye and Libya.

By Khagan Isayev