Saddam Haftar leverages Turkish maritime pact to pursue Libya's presidency

On October 20 the eastern Libyan legislature ratified a maritime memorandum with Turkey, a step that analysts say was engineered by Saddam Haftar, son of military commander Khalifa Haftar. The vote followed a rapid reshuffle that removed long-time speaker Aguila Saleh and replaced him with Al-Salhin Abdulnabi, a figure able to manage tribal sensitivities and signal Turkish influence. Saddam is counting on a U.S.-mediated power-sharing framework, championed by senior adviser Massad Boulos, to secure the presidency, but only if Ankara endorses the arrangement.

The decision has drawn criticism from the European Union, Greece, Israel and Egypt, while Abu Dhabi and the United Arab Emirates back Haftar’s rise. His brother Khaled, chief of staff of the Libyan Arab Armed Forces, remains a potential alternative favored by Cairo. The outcome hinges on Washington’s willingness to accept a Turkish-backed candidate and on Haftar’s ability to balance competing regional patrons.