This annotated chronology is based on the data sources that follow each entry. Public sources often provide conflicting information on classified military programs. In some cases we are unable to resolve these discrepancies, in others we have deliberately refrained from doing so to highlight the potential influence of false or misleading information as it appeared over time. In many cases, we are unable to independently verify claims. Hence in reviewing this chronology, readers should take into account the credibility of the sources employed here.

Inclusion in this chronology does not necessarily indicate that a particular development is of direct or indirect proliferation significance. Some entries provide international or domestic context for technological development and national policymaking. Moreover, some entries may refer to developments with positive consequences for nonproliferation.

January 2005
The General People's Congress of Libya calls on all countries possessing Weapons of Mass Destruction to get rid of them with a vision to make the world safer. Libya also renews its call to make Africa, the Mediterranea,n and the Middle East WMD-free regions without exception, including Israel's nuclear arsenal.
--"Libya Calls on All Countries to Scrap WMDs," Panafrican News Agency, 13 January 2005.

January 2005
Mu'ammar Qadhdhafi says that the United States and the United Kingdom have not rewarded Libya for dismantling its WMD program, although they have made pledges.
--"Qadhafi Says U.S., U.K. Have Not Yet Rewarded Libya for Renouncing Weapons of Mass Destruction," Global Security Newswire, 31 January 2005.

January 2005
In an interview asking about Iran's nuclear weapons, Al-Qadhdhafi says that Iran is an independent country and knows where its interests lie. He also calls upon countries such as the United States, Britain, France, Russia, China, India, and Israel to destroy their weapons.
--"Al-Qadhafi Says Libya 'Served World Peace' By Halting Nuclear Programme," BBC Monitoring, 2 January 2005.

January 2005
With the abandonment of WMD, Libya is called upon by Western nations including France, Germany, Canada, Britain, Italy and United States and opens its doors to better relations and economic ties. Libya is also asked to play a full role in the North African dialogue with the European Union.
--"West Beats a Path to Forgive Libya its Pariah Status," Times Online, 18 January 2005.

February 2005
Mu'ammar Al-Qadhdhafi demands that the United States buy all 417 Scud Missiles at $2 million dollars a piece. The United States plans to buy 10 for testing, but Libya demands that all be purchased for $834 million. They also demand that the United States come to their defense in the event of hostile attack.
--"Israel: US Rejects Demand to Buy Libya's 417 Scuds at $2 Million Apiece," Yedi'ot Aharoton, 1 Feb 2005, in FBIS Document GMP20050203000215.

February 2005
US Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern Affairs William Burns reiterates Washington's desire to establish normalized relations with Libya and praises Libya for abandoning WMD. Burns also reviewed matters of "specific concern over Libya's past involvement in terrorism."
--"U.S. Reaffirms Goal of Normal Libya Relations," Agence France-Presse, 11 February 2005.

5 February 2005
French Defense Minister Michele Alliot-Marie travels to Tripoli to sign a letter of intent on military cooperation and procurement. Libya also expresses that it wants to monitor its borders better to check illegal immigration.
--"France, Libya Intensify Military Cooperation," Le Monde, 8 February 2005.

25 February 2005
Taiwanese businessman Hsieh Chin-Yi is arrested for allegedly smuggling missile components to Libya. He had exported missile parts disguised as general merchandise to Libya since 1999. He also faces forgery charges because the items are declared as “car parts.” In 2000, Hsieh was also caught in Zurich for carrying missile components in his bag at the Zurich airport. He was immediately expelled from the airport.
--AFP: Taiwanese Man Arrested for Selling Missile Components to Libya,” AFP, 25 February 2005 in FBIS Document CPP20050225000097.

6 August 2005
In a telephone meeting with Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi, British Prime Minister Tony Blair indicates an interest in improving his country’s relations with Libya, which cooled soon after Libya’s voluntary abandonment of its weapons of mass destruction programs. 
— “Qaddafi Receives Telephone Call from Blair,” Qatar News Agency, 6 August 2005.

19 August 2005
The White House announces that Richard Lugar, Senate Foreign Relations Committee chairman, is scheduled to make a trip to Libya on behalf of U.S. President George W. Bush to discuss the possibility of normalizing relations between Libya and the United States.  U.S. and Libyan relations have improved recently as a result of Libya’s decision to voluntarily dismantle its weapons of mass destruction programs. 
–– “Lugar to Meet With Libyan Officials,” Global Security Newswire, 19 August 2005.

15 May 2006
The United States restores full diplomatic relations with Libya. U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice says the U.S. "intends to remove Libya from the list of designated state sponsors of terrorism and [Libya] will also be omitted from the annual certification of countries not cooperating fully with United States anti-terrorism efforts." This historic announcement follows Libya's decision to renounce its WMD and MTCR-class missile programs in 2003. The U.S. hopes "states with even more threatening WMD and missile programs will see Libya's experience as a model to emulate."
— "U.S. Diplomatic Relations with Libya, May 15, 2006," United States Diplomatic Mission to Italy, 15 May 2006; "Libya's Decision to Eliminate WMD and MTCR-Class Missile Programs: An International Model," U.S. Department of State, 15 May 2006.

4 May 2007
Russia and Libya are working towards a $2.2 billion arms agreement, their first arms deal in over fifteen years. Libya plans to purchase four batteries of S-300PMU-2 long-range anti-aircraft missile systems and approximately 20 Tor-M1 short-range anti-aircraft missile systems. The S-300PMU-2 has anti-ballistic missile capabilities.
—"Russia to Supply over 2.2 Billion Dollars' Worth of Weapons to Libya," BBC Monitoring Former Soviet Union-Political, 6 May 2007.

29 May 2007
British Prime Minister Tony Blair meets with Libyan leader Colonel Qadhafi to discuss several issues, including the defense deal between the two countries. In the coming months Libya plans to buy British missiles and air defense systems, but nothing has yet been finalized.
— Will Woodward, "First Stop of Blair's Farewell Africa Tour: Gadafy's Tent: PM sees Energy and Arms Sales Deals Signed: Leader once Shunned by West is 'Easy to Deal with,'" The Guardian, 30 May 2007; "British PM Praises Libyan President During Visit; Landmark BP Deal Signed," Global Insight, 30 May 2007.

15 August 2007
French President Sarkozy is facing criticism over a French-sponsored arms deal. A military agreement was signed between EADS/MBDA, which is 15% French-owned, and Libya that involves Milan ADT-ER anti-tank missiles and Tetra communications equipment worth roughly £200 million. The deal is rumored to be linked to the release of several Bulgarian nurses in July, as shortly after their release President Sarkozy flew to Tripoli to sign a number of agreements involving cooperation in the defense industrial field and in peaceful applications of nuclear energy.
— Robin Hughes, "France Agrees Libyan Arms Sale," Jane's Defence Weekly, 15 August 2007; Kim Willsher, "Libya and France sign £200m Arms Deal," The Guardian, 3 August 2008.

15 April 2008
Russian President Vladimir Putin plans to visit Libya to negotiate arms contracts and energy deals, a first for a Russian head of state. Last month Putin told the State Duma that a visit to Libya would help "iron out a financial problem with the country." Many officials believe Putin was referring to an arms-for-debt deal similar to the recent agreement with Algeria.
— Max Delany, "Putin to Talk Gas and Arms in Libya," The Moscow Times, 15 April 2008.

17 April 2008
Russia cancels Libya's $4.5 billion debt in return for ten military, energy and construction contracts worth $2.5 billion. Libya wishes to modernize its outdated weapons inventory, and has purchased improvements for its air defense systems, fighter aircraft, helicopters, submarines and warships from several major Russian corporations such as Gazprom, Russian Railways and Rosoboronexport. Some of the new improvements include the Tor-M2E short-range air-defense system, which uses the 9M331 missile and is based on an MZKT-6922 wheeled chassis, and possibly the S-300PMU2 Favorit surface-to-air missile system.
— Stefan Marx, "Russia's Debt Deal with Libya clears way for Weapon Sales," Jane's Information Group, 2 May 2008; "Ukrainian Website Upbeat on Defence Cooperation with Libya," BBC Monitoring Kiev Unit, 29 April 2008.

1 June 2008
Libyan TV reports that Qadhafi's army held morning military exercises with air force units, involving anti-aircraft missile systems Vega, Osa, Igla and Kvadrat as well as anti-aircraft guns. The exercises were supervised by the deputy chief of staff and were intended as a "response to a mock air strike on a selected location on the coast. The mock strike was warded off by the air defense and the reinforced 32nd brigade."
— Libyan TV, Tripoli referenced in "Libyan Army Holds Military Exercises, Launches Anti-Aircraft Missiles," BBC Worldwide Monitoring, 1 June 2008.

5 September 2008
U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice meets with Libyan leader Muammar Qadhafi for an historic state visit. Rice is the first U.S. Secretary of State to visit Libya since 1953, marking a turning point in U.S.-Libyan relations. Washington is currently negotiating a "military memorandum of understanding," which could allow for significantly increased military sales, cooperation in the science and technology fields, and to coordinated efforts in the fight against terrorism. In addition, the Bush administration has offered to help ease restrictions on aerospace and dual-use equipment sales to Libya.
— Sue Pleming, "Rice meets Qadhafi on Historic Libya Visit," Reuters, 6 September 2008; "Rice in Talks with Libya's Qadhafi," BBC News, 5 September 2008; "U.S. Preparing Military Agreement with Libya," World Tribune, 5 September 2008.

20 October 2008
Russia may sell more than $2 billion in weapons to Libya during Qadhafi's visit to Moscow at the end of the month, including surface-to-air missile systems such as the S-300, TOR-M1 and Buk. Russia is also preparing contracts to update Libya's Soviet-era weaponry. Russia has been negotiating these arms contracts with Libya since 2007 [Note: See NTI Chronology 9 May 2007].
— "Massive Russian Arms Deal for Libya on Cards," Gulfnews.com, 21 October 2008; "Libya Could Buy Arms Worth Over $2 Bln From Russia,"Daily News Bulletin Moscow, 20 October 2008, www.istockanalyst.com.

	Updated November 2008