Turkey and Russia strengthen their position in Libya in pursuit of their ambitions

Russia has decided to reopen its embassy in Libya, while Turkey continues its journey through the region to strengthen its diplomatic relations with both Doha and the North African nation.  After meeting with the Speaker of the Libyan House of Representatives, Aguila Saleh, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov announced his intention to restore his country's embassy in Libya. "I would like to inform you that we have taken the decision to restore the Russian embassy in Libya and that it will be headed by the head of business Dzhamshed Boltaev. It will be temporarily based in Tunisia. However, its functions include the representation of Russia throughout the territory of this country," said the Russian Foreign Minister.

Russia evacuated its diplomats from Libya in October 2013 after an armed faction attacked its embassy in Tripoli. However, none of the members of the Russian mission were injured after the attack. After the incident, the North African country's authorities admitted they could not guarantee the safety of the diplomats, so this and other embassies were evacuated, according to the TASS news agency. During his meeting with Aguila Saleh, Lavrov also said that the ceasefire proposed by Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi on 6 June could work if it is implemented in line with the decisions taken at the Berlin conference in January.

Meanwhile, Turkish Defence Minister Hulusi Akar and Turkey's Chief of Staff Yaşar Güler have flown to the Libyan capital Tripoli to examine the security cooperation agreement signed last November between Ankara and the internationally recognised National Accord Government (GNA) led by Fayez Sarraj, according to the pro-government Daily Sabah. As part of the agreement, the country headed by Erdogan has intensified its presence in Libya, sending hundreds of mercenaries and dozens of shipments of military equipment, with the aim of increasing its presence in the Eastern Mediterranean and having direct access to the country's oil fields. 

According to the Jordanian weekly Al-Hadath, the Turkish defence minister and Sarraj could have signed a defence pact whereby the Eurasian nation could extend its direct intervention in Libya. "I want you to know that we are with you today and tomorrow, and that we will do whatever is necessary for our Libyan brothers under the instructions of our president," stressed the Turkish defence minister, who met with the prime minister of the GNA during his visit to Tripoli. 

Previously, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan travelled to Doha to meet with his counterpart, Sheikh Tamin bin Hamad al-Thani, and to analyse the "strategic relations between the two countries", especially with regard to "economic cooperation in terms of investment and trade, energy and defence", according to the digital Ahval News. The Turkish President made this trip accompanied by the Minister of the Treasury and Finance, Berat Albayrak; the Minister of National Defence, Hulusi Akar; the Director of Communications, Fahrettin Altun; the presidential spokesman Ibrahim Kalin; and the head of the National Intelligence Organization (MIT), Hakan Fidan. 

The Libyan National Army (LNA) - led by Field Marshal Khalifa Haftar - is supported by Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, the United Arab Emirates, Sudan and Russia; while the Tripoli government, backed by the Muslim Brotherhood and internationally recognized by the United Nations, receives military aid from Turkey and Qatar. 

In this complex scenario, Ankara is also trying to strengthen its presence in economic affairs. Some of Turkey's major companies say they hope to play a key role in rebuilding the North African country whose oil reserves have attracted the attention of major international powers. "Turkey gave strength to the GNA when it was at its weakest and I think many GNA members are willing to return that favor and so are looking for partners with whom they can have a strategic relationship," said Anas el Gomati, director of the Libyan think tank Sadeq Institute, in statements reported by digital Ahval News. 

"Everyone in Libya is willing to work with Turkish companies, as long as it is ensured that there is no monopoly. That's what the Libyans are trying to make clear. The Turks seem to be aware of this and seem to accept it," stressed Karim Mezram, a senior official of the Atlantic Council. Mithat Yenigün, director of the Turkish Contractors' Association, told the DW newspaper why Turkish companies have an advantage in Libya: "They have been an important player in Libya long before the conflict started, because Turkish companies had signed contracts worth about 40 billion dollars in the construction sector in Libya since 1972". "Libya is, unfortunately, in ruins. There will be a great business opportunity in the country's construction sector. I estimate around 50 billion dollars," he added. 

Ankara hopes to find a boost to its weak economy in Libya as it faces an unprecedented recession caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Yenigünn believes that Turkey will improve its economic situation once the situation in Libya changes and companies can start investing there. "This will benefit [the Turkish economy] enormously. When we win contracts, we will have the opportunity to export materials. Consulting companies will go there to study the projects before the contractors. We will have the opportunity to use Turkish materials. This will help increase our foreign exchange reserves," he said, according to information gathered by Ahval News. 

As Turkey and Russia continue to strengthen their presence in Libya in pursuit of their ambitions, the International Organization for Migration has recorded a new peak in internal displacement. In recent months, approximately 27,750 people have been forced to leave areas in Tarhouna, Bani Walid and Sirte, mainly to the east of Libya, which is controlled by the LNA, according to the organization.