Turkiye-Libya military ties deepen; Egypt stays quiet
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Turkiye is expanding military cooperation with eastern Libya's Libyan National Army (LNA) under Khalifa Haftar, a shift from its previous support for the Tripoli government. Egypt, a longtime Haftar backer, has not voiced concern, with sources citing prior coordination between Ankara and Cairo.
The Strategic Shift
Turkiye has moved from dialogue with Haftar's General Command to tangible technical and military cooperation, including developing military facilities and advanced surveillance systems. Training programs inside Turkiye for eastern Libyan officers are underway, with specialized Turkish defense companies participating. Saddam Haftar, deputy commander of eastern forces, leads the effort through regular meetings with Turkiye's defense minister and chief of staff.
Egypt's Calculated Silence
Despite the Turkish presence in Egypt's traditional sphere of influence, Cairo has not sounded the alarm. An Egyptian source told Al Jazeera that Ankara coordinates every step in Libya with Egypt beforehand. Brigadier General Samir Ragheb noted that Egypt and Turkiye have reached their highest level of coordination across multiple fields, including military.
Shared Interests in Sudan
In Sudan's civil war, both Egypt and Turkiye back the army against the Rapid Support Forces (RSF). Ragheb argues that Turkiye's cooperation with Haftar's camp may serve Cairo's broader goal of limiting LNA support for the RSF. This alignment reduces potential friction over Libya.
What's Next
The next phase of Turkiye-LNA cooperation is expected to include further technical agreements, though no formal base or drone deployment has been announced. It remains unclear whether Egypt's tacit approval will hold if Turkish military assets move closer to its border.
1 source
Turkiye-Libya military ties deepen; Egypt stays quiet
