The Turkish Role in Libya: From the Skhirat Agreement 2015 to Geneva 2021

Abstract

The Turkish-Libyan relations go back to the era of the Ottoman Empire when Libya was under the rule of the Ottomans, since that period to the present day the relationship between the two countries witnessed fluctuations, sometimes there are relations of cooperationt, and other times relations of tension, the rule of the late President Gaddafi is considered the most close period between the two countries, but with the outbreak of the Arab revolutions, this constituted a true test of Turkish policy, because the Turkish position on the revolution in Libya was not clear from the beginning, after hesitation between supporting the Gaddafi regime or the people In Libya, Turkey chose to support the Libyan people who demanded the departure of Gaddafi, so it recognized the Libyan Transitional Council, and then the Government of National Accord, after that, it recognized the temporary executive authority.This study aims to determine the nature of the Turkish role in Libya, and the real motives behind its support for the Government of Al-Sarraj, and then the government of Dabaiba. To address this issue, we relied on the historical, and analytical approach, to conclude in the end that Turkish policy is driven by a pragmatic character through its pursuit of economic interests, as well as strengthening its position and regional role to increase its accession chances to the EU.