Libya intensifies diplomatic efforts to join Shanghai Cooperation Organization as dialogue partner

Libya, through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Government of National Unity, is continuing its diplomatic efforts aimed at joining the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) as a “dialogue partner,” as part of its broader push to expand its presence within regional and international blocs and strengthen multilateral cooperation.

The ministry held a virtual meeting with the Kyrgyz side as part of efforts to support Libya’s path toward joining the organization and to enhance diplomatic coordination with the SCO’s founding member states.

The Director of the Ministry’s Department of Asian and Australian Affairs, Al-Hassan Bin Rabha, held the virtual meeting with Kyrgyzstan’s national coordinator to the Shanghai Cooperation Organization and Deputy Foreign Minister Almaz Bukalaev, with the participation of several ministry officials, alongside the Chargé d’Affaires of the Libyan Embassy to Turkmenistan, Mahmoud Abdel Aziz.

The meeting discussed mechanisms for advancing Libya’s accession process to the organization and ways to mobilize diplomatic support from Kyrgyzstan as one of the SCO’s founding states, in addition to strengthening bilateral cooperation and coordination between the foreign ministries of both countries.

The Libyan side stressed during the meeting that joining the Shanghai Cooperation Organization represents a strategic step within a broader vision aimed at expanding international partnerships and enhancing Libya’s diplomatic presence in multilateral frameworks in a way that serves its economic, security, and development interests.

Meanwhile, the Kyrgyz official welcomed Libya’s request to join the organization and expressed his country’s readiness to provide the necessary support and facilitate procedures in coordination with member states, while praising Libya’s efforts to strengthen its diplomatic openness.

Both sides agreed to continue coordination and communication between their foreign ministries in a manner that strengthens bilateral relations and supports the shared interests of the two countries.

The Shanghai Cooperation Organization is considered one of the most prominent regional organizations in Eurasia. Founded in 2001, it includes major member states such as China, Russia, India, Pakistan, and several Central Asian countries, and focuses on security cooperation, counterterrorism efforts, as well as enhancing economic and political cooperation among its members.