Libya: Santam Haftar pressured by Turkey and Israel over maritime deal

Santam Haftar, the son of Libyan military leader Khalifa Haftar and a potential successor in eastern Libya, is facing conflicting geopolitical pressures regarding the 2019 Turkey-Libya maritime memorandum.

Turkish officials are reportedly pressuring Santam Haftar to urge the newly elected President of the House of Representatives, Al Salheen Abdul Nabi, to convene a session in Benghazi to ratify the agreement. This memorandum, which defines maritime jurisdictions, has faced long-standing opposition from Greece, Egypt, Cyprus, and Israel.

Conversely, Israel and the United Arab Emirates are reportedly exerting pressure on Santam Haftar to reject the Turkish demands and keep the agreement unratified. Reports suggest that Ankara has threatened to withdraw its support for the Haftar family and potentially shift its backing to political and military forces in western Libya if the ratification process is delayed.