Turkey's parliament approved the resolution with 184 against and 324 for. The decision is valid for one year, says AP.
The military effort is necessary to protect Turkey's interests in Libya and the eastern Mediterranean, the Ankara government believes. The decision means that the Turkish government will decide the direction, extent and timing of the military operation. Turkey's vice president said it would send "the necessary number of soldiers when needed," the AP said.
It is the UN-backed government in Libya's capital Tripoli that wants military assistance. The request concerns support from the Turkish army, air force and navy, says Paul Levin, director of the Institute for Turkey Studies at Stockholm University.
- For some years now we have seen signs of a more activist security policy on the part of Turkey - both the invasion of Syria and now this. It violates the traditionally prudent security policy.
- The motto has been "peace at home - peace abroad," says Paul Levin.
final Offensive
In mid-December 2019, the rival, General Khalifa Haftar, proclaimed what he termed a final offensive in order to try to capture Tripoli, where the government has its seat. Detainees have moved military units from the east towards Tripoli.
But Turkey and the Tripoli government have signed agreements on both military support and cooperation at sea. However, it is far from certain whether Turkey will send all the military resources requested by the Tripoli government.
- A massive effort is needed. It remains to be seen what Turkey can offer militarily. It is over 200 miles between countries with unfriendly countries such as Egypt and Greece. It is not easy logistically. It is a great effort that is in demand as far as I understand, says Paul Levin.
The agreement between Turkey and Libya was signed in November 2019 and is of great importance to Turkey as well. Cooperation at sea means that Turkey can access Libya's continental shelf and thus access the waters outside eastern Syria. It cuts Greece's access to Cyprus, Levin says.
- It is a geostrategically important agreement that provides access to geostrategic resources. In return, they gain access to Libyan territorial waters outside Cyprus through the agreement.
- You are looking for a more independent role instead of "just" being a NATO ally. You want a more independent role and see yourself more as a regional superpower, says Levin.
There are indications that Russia supports General Haftar's final offensive against Tripoli through Russian air defense systems and Russian "green men" soldiers, Levin says.
On January 8, Russian President Vladimir Putin is expected to visit Turkey to inaugurate the Turkstream gas pipeline.