Libya Strengthens International Ties With Visit to Delhi

Mohammed Menfi, the head of Libya’s Presidential Council, has received an official invitation from Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to attend the fourth India–Africa Forum Summit. The summit is scheduled to take place in New Delhi at the end of May 2026.

According to the Presidential Council, the invitation is part of broader efforts to strengthen the international engagement of Libya and expand its cooperation with strategic partners across Asia and Africa to support development and strategic partnerships.

During the invitation process, both parties discussed the enhancement of bilateral relations and the exploration of wider cooperation in key sectors to advance the mutual interests of Libya and India.

Diplomatic Momentum and Recent Engagements

The invitation to President Menfi follows a series of high-level diplomatic activities between the two nations in early 2026. On January 30, 2026, Libya’s Foreign Minister, Eltaher S. M. Elbaour, arrived in New Delhi for his first official visit to India.

Minister Elbaour participated in the 2nd India-Arab Foreign Ministers’ Meeting (IAFMM), an event co-chaired by India and the United Arab Emirates. The meeting was designed to strengthen India-Arab relations, specifically focusing on security, energy, and economic partnerships.

Randhir Jaiswal, the spokesperson for India’s Ministry of External Affairs, stated that the participation of the Libyan Foreign Minister in the IAFMM and subsequent engagements in New Delhi would build positive momentum for advancing our bilateral ties.

Following the diplomatic meetings, Minister Elbaour met with business leaders in Delhi on February 2, 2026. These meetings focused on professionals specializing in transportation, infrastructure, and energy development.

Bilateral Cooperation and Economic Ties

India and Libya have maintained bilateral relations since 1969. The partnership has historically focused on infrastructure development, power generation, and the oil and gas sectors.

Several Indian state-owned and private entities are currently involved in Libyan projects, including:

• Oil India
• ONGC (Oil and Natural Gas Corporation)
• BHEL (Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited)

The upcoming India-Africa Forum Summit in May is expected to build upon these existing ties and the recent momentum generated by the January and February diplomatic visits.