Turkish-Libyan security, maritime deals spike tensions
Agreements between Turkey and Libya sparked anger among stakeholders in the Libyan civil war and in maritime drilling in the Mediterranean Sea.
Turkey's recent maritime and security agreements with Libya's UN-backed Government of National Accord (GNA) are creating waves in the eastern Mediterranean and beyond.
Turkey's legislature appeared ready this week to approve a military cooperation agreement to support the GNA against the Libyan National Army led by Gen. Khalifa Hifter and supported by Egypt, the United Arab Emirates, France and Russia. Turkey had already created ripples of discord after its parliament ratified Dec. 5 a maritime memorandum of understanding concluded last month between Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Fayez Mustafa al-Sarraj, chairman of the Presidential Council of Libya and GNA prime minister.
Libya is divided into two warring governments. The GNA is based in Tripoli in the west. Hifter is the military leader for the elected parliament's government in the east, in Tobruk. Despite UN backing, the government in Tripoli hasn't been able to establish authority outside west Libya. Hifter's army has been battling to take control of Tripoli.
Libyan Interior Minister Fathi Pashaga talked about the security cooperation agreement between the GNA and Turkey during a televised meeting Nov. 27. “The agreement covers all security aspects related to fighting terrorism, organized crime, illegal immigration and intelligence information exchange with the Turkish government,” he said.
