Turkey, Libya's GNA, Qatar to sign deal to boost military cooperation

Duvar English / Anadolu Agency

The deputy defense minister of Libya's Government of National Accord (GNA) on Aug. 17 announced that his country has agreed with Turkey and Qatar to sign a tripartite deal for military cooperation to boost capabilities of the GNA military.

According to media office of the GNA-led Burkan Al-Ghadab (Volcano of Rage) Operation, Salah Al-Namroush said Turkey and Qatar will establish facilities in Libya for military training and consultancy.

Al-Namroush also added that as part of the deal, Turkey and Qatar will send consultants and military personnel to Libya.

Turkish and Qatari ministers emphasized that they support the political solution and the legitimate government, he added.

Earlier in the day, Turkish Defense Minister Hulusi Akar held a trilateral meeting with his Qatari counterpart Khalid bin Mohammad Al Attiyah and GNA Prime Minister Fayez al-Sarraj in Tripoli.

Akar, accompanied by Chief of General Staff Gen. Yaşar Güler, visited Al-Sarraj's office for the meeting.

He also visited the Defense Security Cooperation and Training Assistance Advisory Command that was established as part of a memorandum of understanding between Turkey and GNA.

The Turkish defense minister also held another trilateral meeting with his Qatari counterpart and GNA Interior Minister Fathi Bashagha.

Turkey threw its support behind the GNA in November after signing a military cooperation pact alongside a maritime demarcation deal, which gives Ankara exploration rights in the eastern Mediterranean that Greece and others reject.

Turkey’s intervention in the conflict has pushed back Khalifa Haftar’s eastern-based Libyan National Army (LNA) - backed by the United Arab Emirates, Russia and Egypt - which had been attacking the GNA in Tripoli since April 2019.

Turkey’s support for the GNA “will increasingly continue,” Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan said in many occasions.