Despite the continued UN arms embargo on Libya, Turkish arms companies continue their relentless efforts to control the war market in Libya and cooperate with armed groups in the west of the country.
The Turkish company HAVELSAN for Aerospace and Electronic Industries, which is owned by the Turkish Ministry of Defense, is the last to arrive in Tripoli. Muhammad Al-Haddad, Chief of the General Staff in Tripoli, met on Monday with the General Director of Turkish HAVELSAN, and his accompanying delegation, in the presence of the Director of the Office of the Minister of Defense, a statement of the Government of National Unity in Tripoli announced.
“The meeting included a presentation of the company’s products, with explanations on its capabilities, in addition to offering areas of cooperation in which the Libyan military institution can be modernized and developed,” the statement added.
“An expanded meeting was also held between the company’s delegation and the chiefs of staff, the director of the office of the Minister of Defense, and the director of the procurement department in the Libyan army. It included visual presentations and detailed explanations, in addition to discussing the army’s needs and setting standards for cooperation,” the statement said, without giving further details.
The Turkish arms company’s visit to Tripoli comes amid efforts to unify the Libyan military establishment between the forces in the west and the Libyan National Army in Cyrenaica and Fezzan. It is seen that such visits may hinder the atmosphere of strengthening confidence between the military forces in Libya.
Both forces seek to unify efforts after the 2021 cease-fire agreement and coordinate to control the borders and combat extremist groups and human trafficking.