Experts warn against Turkish plans in Libya

Foreign policy experts are warning against Turkish ambitions Libya.

Turkey, they said, only wants to steal the wealth of the Arab region and control it.

These views coincide with approval by the Turkish parliament of a bill allowing Ankara to send troops to Libya under the pretext of defending Turkish interests in North Africa.

About 325 Turkish lawmakers approved the bill, compared with 184 others who rejected it. The timing of sending Turkish troops to Libya and the places where these troops will be deployed will be decided by Turkish President, Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

The bill allows Turkish authorities to send the troops to Libya for one year, which can be renewed.

Turkey signed a security cooperation deal with the Tripoli-based Government of National Accord (GNA) in late November. Erdogan said that the GNA has asked for support from Turkey against the Libyan National Army which is now marching towards Tripoli. The deal and the approval of the Turkish parliament are fiercely opposed by Egypt, Greece and Cyprus.

Approval by the Turkish parliament of the bill effects a dangerous shift, said Talaat Hamed, the assistant secretary-general of the Arab Parliament.

He added that the approval revives the colonialist penchant of the Ottomans.

“The Arabs should be on alert,” Hamed said. “Turkey’s invasion of Libya will make it important for the Arab League to activate the 1950 Arab Common Defense Pact.”

International relations expert Tarek al-Bardissi said the security deal between Turkey and the GNA should have been referred to the Libyan parliament for approval.

He added that Turkey would use the deal in order to relocate terrorists from Syria to Libya with the aim of undermining Arab states.

“Turkey also aims to besiege Egypt,” al-Bardissi said.

He noted that Turkey wants to usurp the rights of Eastern Mediterranean countries.