Turkey’s 1974 Military Aid from Gaddafi Cited by Former Ambassador

Former Turkish ambassador Uluç Özülker recalled that Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi offered unlimited military assistance to Turkey during the 1974 Turkish invasion of Cyprus. He said Gaddafi opened Libya’s arms depots, telling Turkish officials, “Take whatever you need,” and that Libya shipped 170,000 tonnes of oil and transferred weapons and aircraft parts to Turkey, even using a Greek‑flagged vessel for the transport.

Özülker repeated these claims in interviews with Turkish media on the 50th anniversary of the Cyprus operation (20 July 2024), noting that Libya continued to support Turkey in later years when the United States imposed an arms embargo. He draws parallels to Turkey’s current foreign policy in 2026, suggesting a reversal of roles as Turkey now acts as a regional protector in Libya.

The statements have been highlighted by Turkish outlets as evidence of historic ties and a “historical debt” between Ankara and Tripoli, and are being used to justify contemporary diplomatic positions.