Speaking on Thursday, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan confirmed that Turkey will be sending ground troops and “advanced weapons” to Libya, saying that the deployment is expected at some point in January.
Erdogan made a military deal with the Libyan Government of National Accord (GNA) recent to get a military base inside the country, and certain maritime access rights to look for offshore oil and gas.
Erdogan now promises to give “all forms of support” to the GNA in fighting against Gen. Khalifa Hafter and his self-proclaimed Libyan National Army (LNA). In siding with the GNA, Turkey risks a blowback from Hafter supporters, including Russia, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, and Jordan.
The GNA has confirmed they will extend an invitation for Turkish troops. Erdogan indicated that Turkish parliament will pass a bill authorizing the troop deployment n January 8 or 9. The exact number of troops is unclear.
Sultan Erdogan is trowing his right about. Soldiers and ‘advanced weapons’ in Syria, in Libya. What is next? Lebanon? Iraq?
Oh, he’s just going where we already are.
No you are wrong. Turkey has a base in Qatar, and Iraq. It is in process of getting one in Sudan, Red Sea port town.
What I gathered from recent NPR coverage suggested to me that former CIA asset Hafter is still the faction the US govt wants to see win, although much incoherence of policy exists.
This text misses big time what is going on.
Two things are happening at the same time.
1.
Maritime border
Turkey is not cutting this maritime deal in rder to get some gas rights. Turkey complained, for a long time, that Israel is ILLEGALLY cornering East Mediterranean gas field. Its deal with Cyprus is making it appear that Turkey has no rights to the field, by arbitrarily drawing EEZ lines. Of course, this is nonsense, and Syria, Lebanon and Gaza have rights too.
But Israel backed by US and even EU — pretended not to notice, and even signed the deal with Greece for pipeline — across Mediterranean. Nobody asked Turkey, that has the longest border on Mediterranean. US was so confident — that it acted against Germany and sanctioned Nord Stream!
Days later, Turkey declares its EZZ zone under UNCLOS. Declared rights on extended Mediterranean shelf, as Libya UN appointed government did exactly same. The two zones are meeting in the Middle. Suddenly, what looked like a done deal — is dead in the water. Pipeline cannot go — and Turkey will seek rights to East Mediterranean gas deposits.
2.
Getting this deal with Tripoli government is the stroke of genius, as Tripoli government was in reality abandoned by US and France. Both were courting General Hefter, who by now controls the most of the country. He did it AGAINST US and French wishes, written off but supported by Egypt and Russia until he made it.
Now, he is getting all the attention, while being told by US and France to stay put — and while giving Tripoli only verbal support.
Tripoli now has allies, and Hefter has allies. And those are collaborating, as Egypt, Russia and Turkey are on the same page.
This may create a Syria like situation — where US or anyone from Europe is not in control nor in the mix for negotiations. Russia, Turkey and Syria found solution to territorial control very quickly — the moment US left the region.
I suspect the negotiations will start now between Hefter and Saraj governments. Where is US leverage now? With Turkish troops on the ground, other small advisory foreign troops will be marginalized quickly. Hefter has army and good political backers.
Netanyahu reportedly demanded that pipeline be built immediately! And helpless, debt-slave Greece, has been told to sign security deal with US!
This is another fine mess we got into for the live of Israel. Fury has no bounds over this maneuver,
To make it even more interesting Saudi Arabia just asked Russia to join investigation team on last September’s bombing of Saudi oil facilities. Reason why troops are going to Saudi Arabia. Just to make sure we have more military men in the ground, snd can prevent Russians poking at Saudi Patriots and their performance the day of attack.
Thanks for that – it’s useful to know what’s going on underneath the surface. So you’re not expecting Turkey to send in enough forces to drive out all Saudi/Egyptian aligned opponents? Presumably they could do so if they wanted.
Turkey, is sticking his finger in the eye of the U.S, a move, that has its reward and consequence.