Wednesday, February 19, 2020

Turkey Promises Support of the GNA in Libya


Turkey has become more involved in the affairs of its neighbors. This is extending further, beyond the Middle East into North Africa. Libya has become another area of interest to Turkey, seeing to expand its influence . Since 2011, the country has been in a state of civil war with two rival factions fighting for control. Turkey recognizes the Tripoli based Government of National Accord. Under the leadership of Fayez Al-Sarraj President Recep Erdogan has found an ally. Turkey wants to revive the power it had under Ottoman rule and with the Arab Spring it enabled a power void. Libya is another place that will fall under Turkish influence similar to Syria and Iraq. The challenge in Libya is that the Libyan Arab Armed Forces under Khalifa Hafner did not want a peace deal. The United Nations attempted to broker such a peace deal with little success. The Toburk based faction has support from both Egypt and the United Arab Emirates. The EU stated it will impose an arms embargo, which President Erdogan condemned. Turkey will continue to be involved in Libya militarily and in its domestic affairs. This has caused a reaction within the Mediterranean region. Greece and Cyprus have objected to the Turkish-GNA alliance. Matters only become more complicated with more refugees fleeing war and terrorism.  

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