Europe begins countering Erdogan’s terrorism in Libya

Ali Ragab

Europe has begun to react more to the danger of Turkey’s presence in Libya, which poses a threat to southern European countries and also threatens the entire continent with risks of terrorism and high rates of illegal immigration, similar to what happened with the European-Turkish borders.

On Monday, the European Union expressed its concern and resentment towards Turkey’s behavior and interference in Libya and began to consider its options to compel Ankara to respect its international obligations.

Libyan National Army (LNA) spokesman Major General Ahmed al-Mesmari said that Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has undisclosed goals by invading Libya, as he seeks to threaten Europe after the EU refused to join him.

“Erdogan seeks to control the second line of illegal immigration through Tripoli, which is the line that runs from the Sahara to Tripoli and from there to Europe, where boats will carry weapons, ammunition, destruction and terrorists to Europe,” Mesmari added.

Mesmari revealed that Ankara “is seeking to control Libyan oil to save its collapsed economy… and is working to transport mercenaries and ISIS militants to Libyan territory.”

“Turkey has carried out a clear line with Libya to transfer ISIS and weapons to our country,” he said, adding, “Turkey controls a smuggling line in Asia and Europe and has extorted the European Union a lot,” noting that there are more than 400 Syrian terrorists who fled from Tripoli to Europe.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights revealed in previous reports that a number of pro-Ankara gunmen who had been transferred to Tripoli are taking Libya as a means to travel to Italian territory.

The director of the observatory, Rami Abdul Rahman, said that some of the terrorists who belong to pro-Turkish factions went to Libya as part of the process of transporting mercenaries to Tripoli, and then they started the journey out of Libya towards Italy.

Earlier, a European symposium held by the European Center for Counterterrorism and Intelligence Studies warned that Turkish interference in Libya would enhance the influence of the terrorist Brotherhood in Libya and at the regional level, especially if Turkey can also access the country’s oil wells.

On Saturday, July 11, the center held a symposium in Berlin that included a number of international experts to discuss the position of the Turkish community in Germany regarding the Turkish interference in Libya, the impact of the interference in Libya on the enrichment of a new land for extremism near Europe, the return of lone wolves, and the impact of this on German security, as well as the increasing use of the refugee card to put political pressure on Germany.

Hussein Khedr, who resides in Germany and was one of the speakers at the symposium, stressed that the most prominent results of the symposium focused on Turkey’s violation of the arms embargo imposed by the United Nations on Libya, which is the largest flagrant violation.

Khedr added that experts believe that European security is linked and depends to a large extent on the stability of the Middle East and safety in the Mediterranean region.

Regarding the impact of the Turkish interference in Libya and its benefit to terrorist groups, Khedr said that speakers at the symposium believe it will enhance the influence of the Brotherhood in the country and at the regional level, especially if Turkey can also access the oil wells in the country.

He added that the speakers stressed the necessity of assisting children in wars and crises, such as the Libyan war, to protect their right to humanity and individualism.

Khedr explained that the speakers stressed that Europe and Germany should pursue a stronger policy against Erdogan in Libya and Syria, because this is important for the national security of Germany and Europe.

Meanwhile, Member of the European Parliament (MEP) Costas Mavrides called on EU countries to address Turkey’s ambitions in the Eastern Mediterranean, adding that Ankara is playing a very dangerous role in Libya.

In an interview with Sky News Arabia, Mavrides, head of the Mediterranean Political Committee, stressed the need to impose sanctions on Turkey for violating the arms embargo on Libya and providing support with terrorist organizations.

The MEP pointed out that Turkey’s interference in both Syria and Libya poses a threat to international security, which requires action from Europe.