Turkey and Libya's internationally recognised government are discussing possible Turkish use of two military bases in the North African country, a Turkish source said on Monday, with a view to a lasting Turkish presence in the south Mediterranean.
ANKARA - Turkey and Libya’s internationally recognised government are discussing possible Turkish use of two military bases in the North African country, a Turkish source said on Monday, with a view to a lasting Turkish presence in the south Mediterranean.
A more permanent air and naval presence in Libya could reinforce Turkey’s growing influence in the region, including in Syria, and boost its claims to offshore oil and gas resources.The GNA has in recent months driven back Khalifa Haftar’s Libyan National Army - supported by Russia, the United Arab Emirates, Egypt and France - turning the tide on a 14-month conflict that has displaced an estimated 200,000 people.
“Turkey using al-Watiya ... is on the agenda,” said the first source, speaking on condition of anonymity. “It could also be possible for the Misrata naval base to be used by Turkey.” A Libyan naval base in particular would “institutionalise” Turkey’s influence in the Eastern Mediterranean and give it leverage over Arab and European adversaries, said Galip Dalay, Fellow at Robert Bosch Academy.Russia’s foreign ministry said on Sunday it was pursuing a “prompt ceasefire” and that Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov would reschedule the meeting that was set for Sunday with his Turkish counterpart, Mevlut Cavusoglu.
The Kremlin did not comment on the postponement. Cavusoglu said on Monday it was unrelated to any issues on “core principles”.
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