The Impact Of Libya Turkey Maritime Treaty On Libyan Foreign Policy Objectives

Abstract

The paper focuses on the significant impact on Libyan foreign policy objectives of the Libya-Turkey Maritime Treaty. The Treaty influences Libya's strategic positioning in the Mediterranean, regional alliances, and diplomatic ties. In order to address important economic issues, the treaty also gives Libya the authority to assert its sovereignty and increases its capacity for resource development in the Eastern Mediterranean. The present study aims to analyze the long-term implications of the Libya-Turkey Maritime Treaty, examine how the treaty has influenced Libya’s foreign policy objectives and diplomatic engagements and evaluate the treaty’s significance in advancing Libya’s strategic economic and security interests. The study employed a mixed data collection method. Questionnaires and in-depth interviews were used in this process. Consequently, three research questions and two hypotheses were developed to direct the investigation. The study included 384 individuals in total, and the subjects were chosen for the questionnaire using a simple random sample procedure. Likewise, an interview was conducted with 12 participants. Purposive sampling was the method used by the researcher to choose interview subjects. The study's instruments include an interview schedule and a self-designed questionnaire. The reliability coefficient of the questionnaire is 0.82. The null hypotheses were tested using the t-test at the 0.05 level of significance. The study's findings imply that the treaty has fundamentally changed the Libyan Government of National Accord's (GNA) foreign policy goals and kept them separate from Turkish interests in the Eastern Mediterranean. The results also showed that the treaty has a detrimental effect on Libya's diplomatic ties with its neighbours, which intensifies regional polarisation and tensions. According to the findings, the Libya-Turkey marine Treaty will have long-term effects on bilateral relations between Libya and Turkey, economic factors and strategic goals, difficulties with international law and marine laws, diplomatic reactions, and regional repercussions.