Turkish parliament approves deployment of troops to war-torn Libya
ERBIL, Kurdistan Region – Turkish lawmakers passed a motion Thursday allowing the deployment of Turkish troops to Libya to provide military support to the UN-recognized government, in commitment to a military cooperation pact signed by the two countries in November.
Turkish presidency submitted a bill last week to the parliament, requesting approval for its plans to deploy troops to Libya after requests by the Government of National Accord (GNA) in Tripoli. Of the 509 lawmakers in vote attendance, 325 voted in favor of the motion, while 184 rejected it.
"Libya's National Consensus Government made a military request from Turkey in the struggle of threats towards Libya's unity and stability," reads the motion, as reported by Turkish state-owned outlet Anadolu Agency (AA).
"If the so-called Libyan National Army's attacks could not be stopped and if the clashes [in Libya] turn to a massive civil war, Turkey's interests will be negatively affected both in Mediterranean basin and in northern Africa," it continues.
The internationally-recognized GNA administration signed a military cooperation pact with Turkey on November 27. Since then, Turkish officials have expressed their willingness to send troops to support Fayez al-Sarraj’s forces against those of military strongman Khalifa Haftar, who has declared a “final” and decisive battle in the framework of his eight-month offensive to control Tripoli.
General Haftar supports a parallel administration based in Tobruk, a city in the east of the country. His self-styled Libyan National Army (LNA) control most parts of the war-torn country, including its main oil fields in the south.
The two armies have split the backing of regional powers. The LNA is supported by Egypt, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, while the GNA is backed by Turkey and Qatar. Other countries have avoided public support of either side, though a Russian deployment of 200 mercenaries to Libya to back Haftar has been reported.
US President Donald Trump spoke on the phone with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, warning his Turkish counterpart against any "foreign interference" in Libya.
President Trump "pointed out that foreign interference is complicating the situation" in the country, AFP reported White House spokesman Hogan Gidley as saying.
Egypt has condemned the Turkish parliament’s move, warning it would endanger regional stability.
"Egypt warns against the consequences of any Turkish military intervention in Libya and stresses that such intervention will negatively affect the stability of the Mediterranean region," Egypt's foreign ministry said in a statement.
However, Sarraj’s government welcomed the Turkish parliament’s decision via a phone call between Libyan foreign minister Mohammed Taha Siala and his Turkish counterpart Mevlut Cavusoglu, according to AA.
Libya’s foreign ministry reported the phone call, but did not mention the government’s reaction to the move. Both ministers “discussed recent developments regarding Libyan issue as well as Libya-Turkey cooperation in all fields,” read a statement from the ministry.
Cavusoglu said in a tweet that the motion is “important to protect our interests and the region’s peace and stability,” and Turkish vice president Fuat Oktay said “Turkey will continue to thwart the plots in the region and protect its rights and interests.”
Opposition party members in Ankara overwhelmingly voted to reject the bill, saying the deployment will jeopardize peace in the region.
During the session, Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP) lawmaker Tulay Hatimogullari said her party "clearly" rejects the motion, claiming that Ankara's intention for the deployment is to "strengthen its arms industry and find a market for it."
"By saying no to the motion, we can change the fate of this region," she said.
Libya has seen continuous violence since the toppling of long-time ruler Muammar Gaddafi in 2011, with the country being divided up between the GNA, LNA and militia groups.
Turkish presidency submitted a bill last week to the parliament, requesting approval for its plans to deploy troops to Libya after requests by the Government of National Accord (GNA) in Tripoli. Of the 509 lawmakers in vote attendance, 325 voted in favor of the motion, while 184 rejected it.
"Libya's National Consensus Government made a military request from Turkey in the struggle of threats towards Libya's unity and stability," reads the motion, as reported by Turkish state-owned outlet Anadolu Agency (AA).
"If the so-called Libyan National Army's attacks could not be stopped and if the clashes [in Libya] turn to a massive civil war, Turkey's interests will be negatively affected both in Mediterranean basin and in northern Africa," it continues.
The internationally-recognized GNA administration signed a military cooperation pact with Turkey on November 27. Since then, Turkish officials have expressed their willingness to send troops to support Fayez al-Sarraj’s forces against those of military strongman Khalifa Haftar, who has declared a “final” and decisive battle in the framework of his eight-month offensive to control Tripoli.
General Haftar supports a parallel administration based in Tobruk, a city in the east of the country. His self-styled Libyan National Army (LNA) control most parts of the war-torn country, including its main oil fields in the south.
The two armies have split the backing of regional powers. The LNA is supported by Egypt, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, while the GNA is backed by Turkey and Qatar. Other countries have avoided public support of either side, though a Russian deployment of 200 mercenaries to Libya to back Haftar has been reported.
US President Donald Trump spoke on the phone with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, warning his Turkish counterpart against any "foreign interference" in Libya.
President Trump "pointed out that foreign interference is complicating the situation" in the country, AFP reported White House spokesman Hogan Gidley as saying.
Egypt has condemned the Turkish parliament’s move, warning it would endanger regional stability.
"Egypt warns against the consequences of any Turkish military intervention in Libya and stresses that such intervention will negatively affect the stability of the Mediterranean region," Egypt's foreign ministry said in a statement.
However, Sarraj’s government welcomed the Turkish parliament’s decision via a phone call between Libyan foreign minister Mohammed Taha Siala and his Turkish counterpart Mevlut Cavusoglu, according to AA.
Libya’s foreign ministry reported the phone call, but did not mention the government’s reaction to the move. Both ministers “discussed recent developments regarding Libyan issue as well as Libya-Turkey cooperation in all fields,” read a statement from the ministry.
Cavusoglu said in a tweet that the motion is “important to protect our interests and the region’s peace and stability,” and Turkish vice president Fuat Oktay said “Turkey will continue to thwart the plots in the region and protect its rights and interests.”
Opposition party members in Ankara overwhelmingly voted to reject the bill, saying the deployment will jeopardize peace in the region.
During the session, Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP) lawmaker Tulay Hatimogullari said her party "clearly" rejects the motion, claiming that Ankara's intention for the deployment is to "strengthen its arms industry and find a market for it."
"By saying no to the motion, we can change the fate of this region," she said.
Libya has seen continuous violence since the toppling of long-time ruler Muammar Gaddafi in 2011, with the country being divided up between the GNA, LNA and militia groups.