The head of Turkey’s National Intelligence Organisation (MİT), Ibrahim Kalın, has asserted that Ankara’s involvement in Libya has been important in establishing regional balance and stability. Writing in an article for the Anadolu Agency to mark the 99th anniversary of the intelligence service, Kalın argued that Turkey offers a distinct alternative to Western interventionism, particularly in its dealings with “brotherly nations” such as Libya. He revealed that during 2025, MİT conducted a series of strategic operations designed to pre-empt threats to Turkish national security and safeguard the country’s interests abroad.
Kalın highlighted the growing effectiveness of what he termed “intelligence diplomacy” across the African continent, which he identified as a primary arena for global strategic competition. From the Sahel nations of Chad, Niger, and Burkina Faso to East African partners like Kenya and Tanzania, the intelligence chief noted that Turkish expertise has been instrumental in counter-terrorism efforts, particularly in Somalia and Sudan. He reaffirmed that Ankara’s doctrine remains rooted in supporting “African solutions to African problems,” promising that this proactive and multifaceted security paradigm will continue to shape Turkey’s foreign policy in the coming year.
