Journeys of death: Erdogan’s card for blackmailing Europe

Shaimaa Yahia

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan is exploiting Libya to the utmost, even as it has been torn by wars and conflicts.

The mercenaries Erdogan transferred from Syria to Libya are now turning into a security threat for Europe.

Erdogan also opposes solutions to the conflict in Libya, which threatens to cause many problems to Europe.

He tried to extort money from the continent before by using the refugees as a card. He is trying to do the same now, using the card of the Syrian mercenaries he transferred to Libya.

Some of the mercenaries Erdogan sent to Libya have already started escaping to Europe via the Mediterranean.

On July 22, Libyan National Army (LNA) Spokesman Ahmed al-Mesmari revealed that Ankara had started opening a new route for the escape of the Syrian mercenaries to Europe.

The mercenaries, he said, leave from Libyan capital Tripoli, the northern city of Sabratah, and the coastal city of Zuwara which are controlled by the Tripoli-based Government of National Accord (GNA).

Over 1,000 hirelings, most of them affiliated with terrorist organizations, had escaped to Europe last year, Mesmari said.

He said the mercenaries boarded boats offered by a European country to the GNA coastguard under supervision from Turkey.

Turkey had sent over 16,000 mercenaries to Libya from Syria so far, according to the London-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.

European fears

Erdogan is using illegal immigration to put pressure on Europe. He now wants to turn Libya into a threatening spot for Europe.

In doing this, he is using European fears from Libya turning into a new source of illegal immigrants for the continent.

European states are, meanwhile, setting off the alarm over potential illegal immigration from the southern Mediterranean.

They are afraid that terrorists will hide among those trying to enter the continent, which will pose threats to European security.

European media reports referred previously to the arrival of pro-Turkey mercenaries to European shores through Libya.

The LNA succeeded in arresting some of these mercenaries as they tried to escape to Europe, especially Italy.

Provocative moves

Erdogan insists to move ahead with his plans in Libya, despite ongoing international efforts to settle the conflict in the North African state.

This is stirring up conflicts over resources in the East Mediterranean. The LNA, for its part, said it is ready to attack Turkish ships drilling for gas off the Libyan coast.

Chief of Staff of the LNA Gen. Farag al-Mahdawi said the LNA is capable of attacking ships 100 kilometers away from the coast of Libya.

He added that the LNA had deployed rockets capable of attacking the Turkish ships in the area.