Over a Century Later, Another Turkish Betrayal

In 1912, the Treaty of Ouchy marked the first Turkish betrayal, when they sold us out to the Italians. Over a century later, history repeats itself as Turkey sacrifices Libya for its own interests once again.

Putin had long prepared to lose Syria; after all, Bashar al-Assad, with his blood-soaked hands, could never truly regain legitimacy. Libya became Putin’s Plan B, but Turkey disrupted his ambitions in 2019 by stopping Haftar’s advance on Tripoli. At that time, Turkey and Russia emerged as the dominant players in both Syria and Libya. It’s now clear they were secretly colluding to bring us to this point. The deal? Turkey gains stability along its eastern and southern borders, while Russia secures dominance in Africa and the Mediterranean.

This is the reality we face. Just like Egypt, we seem doomed to repeat the cycle—overthrowing a dictator only to end up with someone worse. Turkey has effectively sold Libya out to Russia. Putin may be leaving Syria, but it’s clear he is gaining Libya in return.

For months, Russia quietly shifted its military capabilities from Syria to Libya, long before Assad’s regime began to crumble. Putin himself has claimed Russia didn’t lose Syria—and now we see why. The next time Haftar marches on Tripoli, don’t expect Turkish drones or support. To Turkey, Libya was nothing more than a bargaining chip. We placed our trust in them, and now we’re left in an even more vulnerable position. Once again, the Muslim Brotherhood have revealed they’re just a pack of liars and thieves.

Libya deserves better than backdoor deals. The government in Tripoli must pull itself together and act before it’s too late. It’s tragic how we, as Arabs, are always reduced to mere pawns in the games of others.