Libya’s United Nations-recognized government has accepted Turkey’s offer to provide military and logistical support to help defend the capital, Tripoli, from an offensive led by forces loyal to renegade military commander Khalifa Haftar, reported The Guardian.
In a statement issued on Thursday, the Tripoli-based Government of National Accord (GNA) said that its cabinet had unanimously approved the implementation of the security and military cooperation deal between the GNA and the Turkish government inked on November 27.
The GNA didn’t provide any further details about the terms of the agreement or the assistance Ankara could provide to pro-GNA forces.
This development comes a few days after the Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan reiterated Ankara’s support for the Libyan government. He said his government is ready to support Libya at any moment the Presidential Council requests.
The Turkey government has already presented the military memorandum of understanding to the parliament. It provides for the transfer of arms, providing military aid, military training, technical support, conduct joint drills and share intelligence with the GNA for three years. Last month, the GNA and Turkey also signed a deal on maritime boundaries, angering Greece and Egypt.
The announcement follows meetings between the GNA Prime Minister, Fayez al-Sarraj, and Turkish foreign and defence officials in Doha, Qatar, at the weekend to discuss the Libyan crisis.
Emrullah İşler, Turkey’s envoy to Libya, said an initial decision to sent military troops to Libya would be taken by parliament on Saturday.
“If the legitimate government of Libya asks for help for military training or the formation of military institutions following the approval of the memorandum of understanding on Saturday, then they would be deployed like in Somalia or Qatar,” İşler said. “The waving of a Turkish flag there would give the necessary message to the other side.”
