Saddam Haftar opened his first week as deputy commander of the east-based Libyan National Army (LNA) by receiving the Turkish corvette TCG Kınalıada in Benghazi and hosting a high-level Turkish delegation—moves that underscore a fast-moving rapprochement with Ankara and signal an expected vote by the eastern parliament to approve the Turkey–Libya Maritime Jurisdiction Agreement.
Turkey’s National Intelligence Organization (MIT) chief İbrahim Kalın met LNA commander Khalifa Haftar in Benghazi on the same day, as eastern lawmakers indicate readiness to ratify the maritime pact—widely seen as paving the way for expanded security cooperation and energy exploration if approved.
The diplomatic push has tracked closely with growing military contacts. According to Turkey’s Ministry of National Defense, TCG Kınalıada conducted PASSEX and PHOTEX drills Aug. 20–21 alongside the LNA Navy’s patrol boats TBZ-14 and TBZ-15, supported by Turkish helicopter TCB-59. During the corvette’s Benghazi port call, a coordination meeting was held with Rear Adm. (UH) Abid Mesud Jouda, his deputy and operations/engineering chiefs, commanders of participating LNA vessels, and a 16-person Libyan Navy team.
Ankara also sent a senior defense delegation led by Maj. Gen. İlkay Altındağ (director general for defense and security) to meet Lt. Gen. Saddam Haftar, who was sworn in on Aug. 23 as LNA deputy commander and land forces chief. Framed under the banner “One Libya, One Army,” the talks included Ambassador Güven Begeç, Benghazi Consul General Serkan Kıramanlıoğlu, Rear Adm. Refik Levent Tezcan, Rear Adm. Hüseyin Tığlı, and Capt. İlkay Beril Aydemir. Saddam Haftar also toured the Kınalıada during the visit.
The corvette’s itinerary highlighted Ankara’s two-track outreach: on Aug. 17, Kınalıada called at Tripoli, where Libyan Chief of General Staff Muhammad al-Haddad boarded the ship—signaling continued engagement with western-based forces as well.
Turkey’s Defense Ministry said the Benghazi visit concluded with a send-off attended by Rear Adm. Jouda, LNA personnel, Rear Adm. (UH) Hüseyin Tığlı, Consul General Kıramanlıoğlu, and Turkey’s defense and naval attachés. The ministry noted that the Libyan delegation received a capabilities briefing aboard Kınalıada before departure.
What’s next: The Tobruk-based House of Representatives is expected to take up approval of the maritime boundary accord in the near term. If ratified, Turkish Petroleum (TPAO) could proceed with offshore surveys in Libyan waters, and Ankara–Benghazi military coordination would likely deepen—reshaping Libya’s security alignments and reverberating across the Eastern Mediterranean energy map.
