Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan has signaled that the path to Libya’s reunification is nearing a breakthrough, suggesting that positive developments could be announced by Türkiye in the near future. Speaking to reporters in Istanbul on Friday after hosting counterparts from Europe and the region, including Egypt, Fidan noted that the country has reached a stage where the reunification of the east and the west can be permanently secured.
The Foreign Minister highlighted the critical necessity of consolidating Libya’s fragmented military forces. Fidan stated that both the eastern and western sides currently maintain separate military structures, which must be brought together under a single national army. He described this integration as one of the most essential pillars of the national unification process.
Beyond internal security, Fidan addressed the maritime demarcation agreement between Türkiye and Libya, which was unanimously approved by Libya’s House of Representatives on Tuesday. He expressed a constructive stance on the matter, suggesting that Türkiye, Italy, and Egypt could collaborate to discuss and resolve concerns held by Egypt and Libya.
The maritime agreement, which was originally signed on November 27, 2019, by Türkiye and Libya’s House of Representatives, defines their respective maritime jurisdiction areas in the Mediterranean. The agreement is based on Ankara’s interpretation of international maritime law, which holds that Türkiye’s extensive Mediterranean coastline should not be disproportionately restricted by Greek islands situated near its mainland.
