Istanbul, Turkey — The Turkish corvette Kınalıada made a significant visit to Libya this month, marking the first-time deployment of a Turkish Navy warship to both Tripoli and Benghazi, the country’s rival power centers.

According to the Turkish Ministry of Defence, Kınalıada docked at Tripoli port from August 17 to 18, 2025, where its crew held discussions with senior Libyan defense officials. The visit aimed to carry out naval training missions with the Libyan Navy, during which both parties explored expanding military cooperation beyond training into sectors like naval operations, air support, and air defense. Following this, Kınalıada conducted joint drills at sea with the Libyan Navy’s fast attack craft Shafak.

The corvette’s subsequent stop was Benghazi on August 20 to 21, 2025, where Turkish and Libyan military delegations met, with the Turkish delegation led by Maj. Gen. İlkay Altındağ. They met Maj. Gen. Saddam Haftar, deputy commander of the Libyan National Army (LNA), to discuss enhancing military and naval cooperation and sharing technical expertise under the slogan “One Libya, One Army.”

Haftar later visited Kınalıada in Benghazi, emphasizing the historical connections between Turkish and Libyan naval forces. He reiterated their commitment to fostering these relationships for regional security and stability.

Serhat Güvenç, an international relations professor at Kadir Has University, noted that the Benghazi port call indicated a reconciliation process between Turkey and Khalifa Haftar’s faction, which previously competed with the Government of National Accord (GNA) backed by Ankara. This visit was notable as it marked the first Turkish naval vessel entering a port under Haftar’s control and conducting joint exercises, signifying Turkey’s openness to engage with all factions in Libya.

Reports suggest that the Benghazi-based parliament, under Haftar’s control, may consider ratifying the Memorandum of Understanding on maritime boundaries between Turkey and Libya, initially signed with the GNA. Such a decision would signify a formalization of the reconciliation and cooperation on strategic issues.

The visits to Tripoli and Benghazi are the culmination of extensive diplomatic efforts, given Turkey’s prior support for the GNA during Libya’s civil war. Turkey’s intervention in 2020, which included providing advisers, equipment, and drone support, was crucial in enabling the GNA to repel Haftar’s forces and reclaim significant territories, including the al-Watiya airbase.

Turkey has since sought to bridge the divide in Libya, beginning with its participation in the 5+5 Joint Military Commission meetings in December 2021 and continued through technical discussions. The invitation for Haftar’s visit to Turkey marked a pivotal moment for military dialogue, further strengthened during his attendance at the IDEF 2025 defense exhibition in July, where he met with Defense Minister Yaşar Güler.

Looking ahead, Turkey may position itself as a defense equipment supplier to a unified Libya, especially as the country will likely require rearmament if a unified government is established. The visit of the TCG Kınalıada also served as a demonstration of Turkey’s Ada-class corvettes.

Cem Devrim Yaylali serves as a correspondent for Defense News from Turkey and specializes in military-related topics. He is passionate about photography and resides in Istanbul, Turkey.