Turkish defense minister holds official visits in Libya

By Sarp Ozer

TRIPOLI, Libya

Turkey's defense minister on Monday held meetings with Libyan officials in the capital Tripoli.

According to a Defense Ministry statement, Hulusi Akar met at the Prime Ministry with officials including Fayez al-Sarraj, the head of Libya's Presidential Council, and chaired meetings between the delegations.

Akar also met with Libyan Interior Minister Fatih Ali Bashagha and Khalid al-Mishri, head of the High Council of State (HCS).

During the meetings, cooperation between the two countries on defense, military, and regional security issues was discussed.

Currently, two rival seats of power are vying for supremacy in Libya: an internationally recognized national unity government based in Tripoli, and an “interim” government supported by a legislative assembly based in the eastern city of Tobruk.

Headed by al-Sarraj, the Tripoli government was established in early 2016.