During a visit to Libya, Turkey’s Defence Minister Hulusi Akar highlighted his country’s intent to maintain its military presence in the North African country at the risk of disrupting the UN sponsored peace process there, analysts say.
Akar’s visit to Tripoli also came after the Turkish parliament this week adopted a motion extending the deployment of forces in Libya by 18 months.
The Turkish defence minister threatened that the forces of Khalifa Haftar and their supporters would be viewed as “legitimate targets” if they attempted to attack Turkish forces in the region.
Speaking during a visit to Turkish troops in Tripoli, Akar said “Haftar and his backers should know that in the event of any attack attempt waged on Turkish forces, the killer Haftar’s forces will be viewed as legitimate targets everywhere”.
Turkey has dispatched thousands of mercenaries from Syria and delivered military equipment, including advanced drones, to the GNA in its showdown with the LNA forces.
But in October the GNA and the LNA struck a ceasefire agreement, which has been generally respected, setting the stage for elections at the end of next year, after negotiations sponsored by the United Nations.
The process seemed to stir concerns in Ankara about losing its influence in Libya especially after intensified contacts undertaken by the GNA’s Minister of the Interior Fathi Bashagha with Egypt and France.
Wracked by violence since then, the North African country has become a battleground for tribal militias, jihadists and mercenaries and a major gateway for desperate migrants bound for Europe.
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