Nov 25, 2023. Posted by Balkan Periscope - Hellas
Turkish
President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan formally presented a memorandum to the Turkish
Parliament, advocating for the extension of Turkey’s military presence in Libya
through 2025.
This strategic proposal underscores Turkey’s ongoing commitment to maintaining stability and supporting military operations in the region.
According
to reports by the Anadolu Agency, Erdoğan’s memorandum focuses on sustaining
the training and advisory support provided to Libyan forces. This support is
part of the security and military cooperation agreement previously established
with Libya’s former Government of National Accord (GNA).
The
memorandum aims to avert the resurgence of armed conflicts and to ensure the
culmination of ongoing military and political negotiations under the United
Nations’ (UN) guidance.
The Turkish
government perceives the stabilization of the Libyan government as vital to
safeguarding its interests in the Mediterranean and North Africa. The
resumption of hostilities in Libya poses a direct threat to regional stability
and, by extension, to Turkish national security interests.
Erdoğan’s
proposal also addresses the need to combat potential threats from armed groups
and terrorist organisations targeting Turkish interests in Libya. This aspect
of the memorandum highlights Turkey’s broader strategy to secure its
geopolitical interests in the region.
The Turkish
Parliament previously extended the mission of Turkish forces in Libya for 18
months, beginning January 2nd, 2021. This extension enabled the Turkish
military to provide essential training and mine-clearance expertise, elevating
the Libyan forces’ combat capabilities to meet international standards.
The
memorandum of understanding (MoU) signed with the GNA in January 2020 laid the
groundwork for Ankara’s humanitarian and military assistance to Libya.
This
assistance forms a critical part of Turkey’s approach to maintaining regional
stability and supporting Libya’s government, the Libyan media write.
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