Turkish Corvette Kınalıada Enhances Military Ties with Libya

Historical Port Calls

The Turkish Navy’s corvette, Kınalıada, recently embarked on a significant mission to Libya, marking the first instance of a Turkish warship visiting both Tripoli and Benghazi during a single operational deployment. This unprecedented move underscores Turkey’s strategic pivot towards fostering a broader military collaboration in the region.

Tripoli Visit: Strengthening Military Cooperation

On August 17-18, 2025, Kınalıada docked at the port of Tripoli, where its crew engaged with senior officials from the Libyan Ministry of Defence. The objective of this port call was twofold:

• Conduct naval training operations alongside the Libyan Navy.
• Discuss potential enhancements in military cooperation across naval, aerial, and air defense strategies.

Subsequent to the discussions, Kınalıada participated in joint maritime exercises with the Libyan Navy’s fast attack craft, Shafak, demonstrating a commitment to practical military collaboration.

Arrival in Benghazi: A Symbolic Gesture

Kınalıada’s next destination was Benghazi, where it arrived on August 20-21, 2025. This visit included high-level meetings between Turkish and Libyan military delegations, with Turkish representation led by Maj. Gen. İlkay Altındağ. The discussions focused on advancing military and naval collaborations, and emphasized the exchange of technical expertise under the initiative of “One Libya, One Army.”

Maj. Gen. Saddam Haftar, deputy commander of the Libyan National Army (LNA), reciprocated with a visit to Kınalıada. His office commented that this engagement demonstrated the longstanding historical partnership between the naval forces of Libya and Turkey, and reaffirmed both nations’ dedication to enhancing regional security and stability.

Political Implications of the Visits

The port call to Benghazi signifies a thawing in relations between Turkey and Haftar’s faction, traditionally in opposition to the Government of National Accord (GNA), which Turkey had previously supported. The engagement with Haftar is a strategic recalibration, indicating Turkey’s openness to forming alliances with various factions within Libya.

Institutionalizing Strategic Agreements

Reports suggest that the Benghazi-based parliament, controlled by Haftar, may be inclined to ratify the Memorandum of Understanding concerning maritime borders earlier established between Ankara and the GNA. Such a legislative endorsement would formalize cooperative measures on a critical strategic issue relevant to both nations.

Diplomatic Evolution in Action

The recent naval visits cap a series of diplomatic endeavors. Historically, Turkey backed the GNA during Libya’s civil conflagration, utilizing military advisors and drone support that contributed to the GNA’s defense against Haftar’s forces.

Turkey’s strategy has progressively shifted toward bridging Libya’s political rift, evidenced by:

• Involvement in the 5+5 Joint Military Commission meetings in late 2021.
• Engagement in various technical exchange visits which laid the groundwork for enhanced dialogue.

Key interactions, including Lt. Gen. Khalifa Haftar’s visits to Ankara and attendance at the IDEF 2025 defense exhibition, have further solidified the trajectory toward military cooperation.

Future Prospects

As Libya contemplates long-term rearmament and the reorganization of its armed forces, Turkey appears poised to position itself as a key supplier of defense systems for a prospective unified Libyan military. The TCG Kınalıada serves as a representative for Turkey’s Ada-class corvettes, highlighting the equipment capabilities that Turkey could offer.

In the shifting landscape of Libyan politics and military alliances, Turkey’s recent naval engagements provide crucial insights into the potential for both defensive collaborations and regional stability. The implications of these interactions will likely resonate beyond immediate military exercises, shaping the geopolitical context in North Africa for years to come.