Australia–Libya relations

Australia–Libya relations are the bilateral relations between Australia and Libya. The two countries are members of the United Nations.

Australia–Libya relations

Australia	Libya

History

Both countries established diplomatic relations on 4 January 1978.^[1]

Australia and Libya announced the establishment of diplomatic relations on 4 January 1978.^[2] A Libyan People's Bureau was opened in Canberra and the Australian ambassador to Italy was accredited on a non-resident basis. Concerns about Libyan destabilising activities in the Pacific region, part of a broader sponsorship by Muammar Gaddafi of such activities around the world, led to the expulsion of the Bureau in Canberra in 1987.^[3][4]

As part of the thawing of relations between Libya and Western nations following Gaddafi's post 9-11 policy u-turns, diplomatic relations were restored in 2002, the Libyan People's Bureau reopened in Canberra and the Australian ambassador in Rome resumed non-resident accreditation. This has remained the case, though with the Bureau's name reverting to embassy following the overthrow of Gaddafi.

Australia was a major non-military backer of the revolutionaries during the Libyan Civil War, sending more humanitarian aid to Libya than any other single country after the United States.^[5][6] It was relatively early to recognise the NTC, doing so on 9 June 2011, months before the capture of Tripoli.^[7][8]

In December 2011 Australian Foreign Affairs Minister Kevin Rudd traveled to Libya to meet with Libyan Prime Minister Abdurrahim El-Keib. Rudd ceremonially hoisted the flag of Australia at his country's consul-general in Tripoli and pledged Canberra's support for efforts to remove unexploded landmines in Libya, as well as advice on Libya's planned transition to democratic governance.^[9]

Resident diplomatic missions

• Libya has an embassy in Canberra.
• Australia is accredited to Libya from its embassy in Cairo.