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The United States and Turkey have held fresh high-level talks aimed at strengthening cooperation on key regional issues, with the ongoing crisis in Libya topping the agenda. The meeting took place in Istanbul between US Senior Advisor for Africa, Massad Boulos, and Turkey’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Hakan Fidan.
Boulos confirmed the discussions in a post on social media platform X on Friday, saying the talks focused on “joint efforts” in Libya, Sudan, and Somalia, as well as broader African affairs. He emphasised that creating the right conditions for peace is essential for enabling long-term growth and prosperity across Africa. According to him, both Washington and Ankara agreed to deepen collaboration in tackling conflicts, stabilising fragile states, and boosting development in affected regions.
The talks came shortly after Boulos completed a North Africa tour that included visits to Libya, Egypt, and Tunisia. In Libya, he met Prime Minister Abdulhamid Dbeibah in Tripoli and Field Marshal Khalifa Haftar in Benghazi. His political remarks during the trip repeated familiar calls for “restoring calm,” “preventing violence,” “unifying institutions,” and “advancing dialogue.” However, the most tangible results of the Libya stopover were economic, particularly in the energy sector.
While in Tripoli, Boulos attended the signing of a cooperation agreement between Mellitah Oil and Gas Company and US-based engineering giant Hill International. He also disclosed that two additional deals are in the pipeline between Libya’s National Oil Corporation and American energy companies. These moves signal Washington’s ongoing interest in Libya’s vast oil and gas potential, which has remained a key strategic focus despite the country’s political instability.
In Tunisia, Boulos held talks with President Kais Saied, where discussions covered regional security, economic ties, and the need for stability in North Africa. In Egypt, he met with newly appointed Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty, where Libya and Sudan featured prominently on the agenda.
Despite speculation in some political circles, the trip did not produce any new peace roadmap or mediation plan to break Libya’s prolonged political deadlock. Notably, there was no sign of the widely rumoured initiative linked to former US President Donald Trump to resolve the Libyan crisis.
Analysts say the series of meetings reflect a US diplomatic approach that appears to prioritise economic engagement and energy investments over ambitious political solutions, at least for now. While Washington continues to push for dialogue between Libya’s rival authorities, recent visits and agreements indicate a strong focus on securing partnerships that could bring mutual economic benefits.
For Turkey, the talks with the US add to its growing diplomatic footprint in Africa, particularly in countries where Ankara has military, political, and commercial interests. Turkey has long been involved in Libya, supporting the Tripoli-based government while also seeking to expand trade, construction projects, and defence cooperation across the continent.
Observers believe that closer US-Turkey coordination could influence developments in Libya, Sudan, and Somalia, especially in areas of conflict mediation, humanitarian relief, and infrastructure rebuilding. However, they caution that without concrete political breakthroughs, instability in these regions could continue to hinder long-term progress.
The Libya situation remains complex, with rival administrations controlling different parts of the country, foreign powers backing opposing sides, and national elections repeatedly delayed. Both Washington and Ankara have indicated they will keep pushing for a unified government and a return to a political process, but so far, no timeline has been set for any major new initiative.
The US-Turkey talks also come at a time when global powers are increasing their engagement in Africa, driven by competition over energy resources, trade routes, and security partnerships. With Libya’s oil wealth and strategic location in the Mediterranean, it is expected to remain a central point in US and Turkish foreign policy in the region.
