 Libya and weapons of mass destruction

Libya has had a complex relationship with weapons of mass destruction (WMD), particularly during the rule of its former leader Muammar Gaddafi, who came to power in 1969 and ruled until his ousting and death in 2011. **Nuclear Program:** Libya pursued a nuclear weapons program in the 1970s and 1980s, motivated in part by national security concerns and a desire for regional influence.