Turkey says will continue providing military consultancy to Libya's GNA

Duvar English

Turkey will continue providing military consultancy to the internationally recognized Government of National Accord (GNA) in western Libya, the country’s National Security Council (MGK) said on June 2.

“It has been emphasized [in the meeting] that military consultancy services provided by our country to Libya’s UN-recognized legitimate government, which endeavors to protect Libya’s political unity and territorial integrity and to ensure peace and tranquility across the country, will be continued,” the council, headed by President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, said in a statement issued following its meeting.

“The international community is called on to take a principled stance against shady groups, which usurp the will of Libyan people and target Libya’s legitimate government.”

Turkey has been providing military training and consultancy services to the Libyan army through advisers based in the country. It has also dispatched thousands of Syrian mercenaries to Libya, as well as drones and armored vehicles.

Turkey has recently announced that it will begin oil exploration off Libya's coast in the eastern Mediterranean within three or four months under a deal it signed with the GNA that was condemned by others in the region including Greece.

"Within the framework of the agreement we reached with Libya we will be able to start our oil exploration operations there within three to four months," Turkish Energy Minister Dönmez said last week.

Turkey's National Security Council said on June 2 that the country will continue to protect its rights and interests in the eastern Mediterranean “without any compromise.”

“Negativeapproaches of some actors, who met on the common ground againstTurkey, regarding Turkey’s legitimate and legal steps in theMediterranean were evaluated, and it is stated that protection of ourcountry's rights and interests in land, sea, and air will continuewithout any compromise,” the council said.