Libya on the Brink: Turkish Spy Chief Makes High-Stakes Visit Amid Deepening Political Crisis

Turkey’s Spy Chief Visits Libya Amid Political Impasse

Turkey’s National Intelligence Agency (MİT) head, İbrahim Kalın, recently visited Libya to support the country’s UN-recognized Government of National Unity, led by Prime Minister Abdulhamid al-Dbeibah.

According to a Turkish security source, Kalın met with al-Dbeibah and other officials on September 5 to discuss the current political impasse in Libya. The country has been experiencing a shutdown of its oil exports, which has jeopardized four years of relative stability.

Kalın emphasized Ankara’s commitment to Libya’s unity and stability, conveying the hope that conflicts would be resolved through a national agreement and continued de-confliction. This visit marks the highest-level contact between the two sides since al-Dbeibah’s visit to Ankara in late May.

Turkey has been actively involved in supporting the Libyan government, having sent military personnel to the country in 2020 to provide training and assistance against the forces of eastern commander Khalifa Haftar, the Libyan National Army.

The current standoff in Libya is centered around the ousting of former central bank chief Sadiq al-Kabir, which has led to a shutdown of all oil production by eastern factions. This move has threatened to disrupt the relative stability that Libya has experienced since 2011.

The situation in Libya remains complex, with the country divided between eastern and western factions since 2014. Kalın’s visit is seen as a significant step towards resolving the current impasse and promoting a peaceful resolution to the conflict.