Treaty between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and the United Kingdom of Libya
Article VIII. This Treaty does not affect, and cannot be inter-
preted as affecting in any way, the rights and obligations of
Greece and Turkey deriving from the North Atlantic Treaty of
April 4,1949.
Article IX. After the coming of this Treaty into force any
other State, whose collaboration for the realization of the aims
of this Treaty is deemed useful by all the Contracting Parties,
will be able to accede to the Treaty under the same conditions
and with the same rights as the three signatory States.
Each State acceding to this Treaty shall become a Contract-
ing Party of the Treaty by depositing an instrument of acces-
sion.
Article X. The present Treaty, whose French version shall be
authentic, shall be ratified by all the Contracting Parties and the
instruments of ratification shall be deposited with the Secretary
of State of the Federal People’s Republic of Yugoslavia in
Beograd; it shall enter into force on the date of deposit of the
last instrument of ratification.
At the expiration of five years after the coming into force of
the present Treaty, each Contracting Party may cease to be a
party to the Treaty by notifying the Governments of the other
Contracting Parties one year in advance.
In Witness Whereof the respective Plenipotentiaries have
signed this Treaty.
Done in Ankara, this twenty-eight day of February one thou-
sand nine hundred and fifty-three, in three copies, one copy
being delivered to each Contracting Party.
Koca POPOVIC, m.p.
Stephanos STEPHANOPOULOS, m.p.
Fuad KÖPRÜLÜ, m.p.
4.1354 Treaty of Friendship and Alliance
between Her Majesty in Respect of the United
Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ire-
land and His Majesty the King of the United
Kingdom of Libya
Alliance Members:United Kingdom and Libya
Signed On:July 29, 1953, in the city of Benghazi (Libya). In force
until June 5, 1967.
Alliance Type:Defense Pact (Type I)
Source:United Nations Treaty,no. 2491.
SUMMARY
This alliance is quite similar to Britain’s alliances with other Common-
wealth countries. Both countries sought a stabilized southern Mediter-
ranean, and Britain sought additional influence in northern Africa fol-
lowing the independence of Egypt.
The terms of the alliance provided for the stationing of British armed
forces within Libyan borders. Libya’s strategic position had become
increasingly important for Britain as a quick staging ground to access
the Suez Canal, and the alliance terms were exercised by the British
during the Suez Crisis of 1956. In exchange for basing rights, the
alliance provided for mutual defense in times of war and generous
financial assistance from Britain to Libya.
Mu ̨ammar Gadhafi’s coup in the fall of 1969 overthrew the monarchy
of King Idris, and Gadhafi’s new government proclaimed the forma-
tion of a new republic. Following the Arab-Israeli war of 1967, the
internal political pressure became too great and, at Libya’s request, the
treaty was abrogated. The withdrawal of British troops and the liqui-
dation of British bases soon followed.Alliance Text
Her Majesty The Queen of the United Kingdom of Great
Britain and Northern Ireland and of Her other Realms and Ter-
ritories (hereinafter referred to as Her Britannic Majesty) and
His Majesty The King of the United Kingdom of Libya (here-
inafter referred to as His Majesty The King of Libya);
Considering that on the 24th day of December, 1951, the
United Kingdom of Libya became an independent sovereign
State in pursuance of resolutions of the General Assembly of the
United Nations dated the 21st day of November, 1949 and the
17th day of November, 1950;
And being animated by a sincere desire to consolidate the
friendship and good relations which exist between Their
Majesties;
And desiring to conclude a Treaty of Friendship and Alliance
with this object and with the object of strengthening the contri-
bution which each of them will be able to make to the mainte-
nance of international peace and security in accordance with
the provisions and principles of the Charter of the United
Nations:
Have accordingly appointed as their Plenipotentiaries:
Her Britannic Majesty: for the United Kingdom of Great
Britain and Northern Ireland: Sir Alec Kirkbride, K.C.M.G.,
O.B.E., M.C., Her Majesty’s Envoy Extraordinary and Minister
Plenipotentiary.
His Majesty The King of Libya: for the United Kingdom of
Libya: Essayed Mahmud Muntasser, Prime Minister and Minis-
ter for Foreign Affairs.
Who, having exhibited their full powers found in good and
due form, have agreed as follows:—
Article 1. There shall be peace and friendship and a close
alliance between the High Contracting Parties in consecration
of their cordial understanding and their good relations.
Each of the High Contracting Parties undertakes not to
adopt in regard to foreign countries an attitude which is incon-
sistent with the alliance or which might create difficulties for
the other party thereto.
Article 2. Should either High Contracting Party become
engaged in war or armed conflict, the other High Contracting
Party will, subject always to the provisions of Article 4, immedi-
ately come to his aid as a measure of collective defence. In the
event of an imminent menace of hostilities involving either of
the High Contracting Parties they will immediately concert
together the necessary measures of defence.