Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has announced plans to start cooperation with Azerbaijan in conducting joint drilling and exploration operations in the Libyan oil sector.

Erdogan told reporters, commenting on the results of his visit to Azerbaijan, specifically cooperation in the energy sector, that the two countries, through the existing joint structure, can "work in the hydrocarbon sector in Turkey, Libya or other countries, and can also participate in the oil refining business," Turkish broadcaster TRT reported Friday.

"Apart from that, maybe we can start a new process," he added, "We can take this step with our dear friend Ilham Aliyev (President of Azerbaijan) in Libya," noting that he made a proposal to this effect to his Azerbaijani counterpart.

Experts predict a new front will be formed in Libya's joint energy exploration, which will challenge Russia and Iran, the region's major energy suppliers. Last September, it was reported that Azerbaijan had become Turkey's largest gas supplier in the first eight months of 2020, surpassing both Moscow and Tehran.