Libya sends message to both friends, foes with major military exercise — general

Lead

In a significant step toward military reconciliation, Libya's two rival armed forces have participated together in international exercises for the first time, according to reports from RFI. The Turkish defence ministry confirmed that 501 personnel from both Libyan armies joined Turkey's Efes 2026 military exercises, marking a rare moment of joint participation for the divided nation's forces.

Meanwhile, in a separate development, the Libyan National Army (LNA), which controls southern and eastern Libya, is conducting what its officers describe as its biggest military exercise yet, as reported by Al-Monitor and cited by TASS. According to LNA spokesman General Abdallah Noureddine, over 25,000 troops are participating in the exercises under the command of Marshal Khalifa Haftar.

Coverage Comparison

Reports from different sources highlight distinct aspects of Libya's complex security landscape. RFI's coverage focuses on Turkey's diplomatic outreach and the potential for unifying Libya's armed forces through international cooperation. The report quotes Libya expert Aya Burweila of the Athens-based Centre for Hellenic and Mediterranean Studies, who frames the exercises as a positive step toward military unification.

TASS's coverage, by contrast, emphasizes the Libyan National Army's display of military strength, describing the exercise as a message to both friends and foes. The Russian news agency notes that Haftar was expected to attend the exercises alongside foreign military observers, with the LNA seeking to demonstrate the balance of power to the Tripoli-based government.

Key Claims

• Turkey's defence ministry reports 501 personnel from both Libyan armies joined the Efes 2026 exercises.
• The Libyan National Army states that over 25,000 troops are participating in its exercise, according to Al-Monitor's report of LNA spokesman statements.
• Turkey signed a 2019 memorandum with the Tripoli administration to create a joint exclusive economic zone, a move strongly opposed by Greece and Cyprus, according to RFI.
• The United States conducted the Flintlock 2026 special operations exercise in Libya in April, which reportedly involved armed forces from both rival governments, as stated by TASS.
• Libya has been divided since 2014, with the Government of National Unity ruling the west from Tripoli and the Government of National Stability holding the east in Benghazi, RFI reports.

Perspectives

Analysts see Turkey's move as a strategic pivot toward the east, according to RFI. Burweila described it as a "huge, practical pivot towards the east," noting Turkey's expanding business interests, weapons sales, and drone contracts in the region. The analyst suggested these joint exercises could help facilitate closer cooperation with both sides, potentially aiding Libya's long-term stability.

Jalel Harchaoui of the Royal United Services Institute, a London-based defence think tank, told RFI that Ankara's courting of the Benghazi administration is fundamentally about expanding Turkish influence in the eastern Mediterranean. Turkey needs Haftar's support to enforce the 2019 memorandum of understanding on creating a joint exclusive economic zone with Libya, Harchaoui argued.

For the eastern administration, the military exercise serves a demonstrative purpose. LNA spokesman General Noureddine emphasized that the exercise is intended to show the Tripoli-based Government of National Accord the true balance of power within Libya, according to TASS's report of the Al-Monitor article.

TASS's coverage places Libya's current situation in the context of the country ceasing to function as a unified state after the overthrow of Muammar Gaddafi in 2011. The news agency reports that there are currently two governments in Libya: one UN-supported administration led by Abdul Hamid Dbeibah based in Tripoli, and another led by Osama Hammad, initially based in Benghazi and later moved to Sirte.

The United States has also shown engagement with Libya's competing forces. The Flintlock 2026 special operations exercise held in April reportedly involved the armed forces of both rival governments, according to TASS, suggesting that international actors are finding ways to work with both sides of Libya's political divide, even as the country awaits general elections that have not yet been held since the UN-sponsored Libyan Political Dialogue Forum selected a transitional executive authority in Geneva in 2021.