Libyan Crisis

Greece on Saturday announced plans to reopen its embassy in Tripoli, the Libyan capital.

The announcement by the Greek Foreign Ministry came a day after UN sponsored talks produced a new interim government for Libya aimed at resolving a decade of chaos, division and violence by holding national elections later this year.

Turkey on Feb. 5 welcomed the recent political developments in Libya as the North African country elected its interim president and prime minister to govern the country until Libyan elections in December.

The United States called on Russia, Turkey and the United Arab Emirates on Thursday to immediately halt their military interventions in Libya as demanded in a cease-fire agreement, and accept Libyan sovereignty as it moves to unify its government, hold elections and end years of fighting.

Turkey on Jan. 22 welcomed a recent compromise between the warring sides in Libya on a mechanism to appoint a temporary executive authority in the country. 

The Turkish defense minister and his Libyan counterpart met in Istanbul on Jan.10 to discuss bilateral cooperation.

Turkey's Armed Forces have provided the Libyan Navy with five weeks of training in underwater warfare, Turkish defense officials said on Dec. 27. 

The move is part of Turkey's commitment to Libya based on agreements between the two countries, the officials said.

Turkish National Defense Minister Hulusi Akar on Dec. 26 embarked on a visit to Libya.

Accompanied by Turkey's Chief of General Staff Gen. Yaşar Güler and other military commanders,

Akar met Libya's Chairman of the High Council of State Khalid al-Mishri, Defense Minister Salahuddin al-Namroush and Interior Minister Fathi Bashagha.

Turkey's Foreign Ministry on Dec. 8 condemned the detaining of a Turkish ship transporting medicine to Libya's port of Misrata by forces loyal to Libyan warlord Khalifa Haftar. 

Haftar's forces detained the vessel and its 17 crew members, including nine Turkish citizens, earlier in the day, claiming they did not comply with instructions. The vessel was also fined.

Forces backing Libya's unity government said on June 3 they had reseized the capital's Tripoli International Airport, held since 2019 by rival forces backing Khalifa Haftar, in the latest in a string of defeats for the eastern-based military commander.

Russia has recently deployed fighter aircraft to Libya to support Russian mercenaries who are battling for warlord Khalifa Haftar, said U.S. military leaders on May 26.