MESOPOTAMIA NEWS : CENGIZ CANDAR & ERDOGAN’S LIBYA

“Turkey’s Libya Gambit Raises Stakes in the Eastern Mediterranean” by Cengiz Candar

International attention has begun to shift towards the Eastern Mediterranean since Turkey announced plans to send troops to Libya, upon the its request, and a maritime border agreement was signed between the two countries. Erdoğan reached out to Fayez al-Sarraj, the prime minister of the Government of National Accord (GNA), but Turkey and Libya’s maritime deal primarily impacts easternLibya, where Sarraj is powerless.

Russian approval is essential for Turkey to begin its Libya operations, and Turkey’s eagerness to send troops to Libya at Sarraj’s request worries the Gulf countries supporting the opposite side of the eastern Tobruk-based governments. The response of the Arabian capitals hinges on the results of the negotiations between Russia and Turkey. The maritime and security deals worsened the already tense situation within Libya and drew many more Middle Eastern states into the conflict.

al-Monitor (Washington, D.C.), December 23, 2019.

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