The Libyan crisis and the weight of the Turkish presence
2020-06-18T19:24:35.033Z
In recent days, off the Libyan coast, the clash between European naval units that monitor the UN embargo against the supply of weapons to the warring factions and the Turkish frigates lined up to protect the cargo bound for North African ports. A French frigate attempted to inspect one of these merchant ships, suspected of refusing to give credentials and destination, but was forced to desist after being "hooked" as a possible target by the radars of two Ankara frigates escorting her. NATO announces an investigation: "We will clarify what happened," said Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg, while Paris and Ankara are exchanging mutual accusations. "The main obstacle to peace and stability today is Turkey's continuing violation of the embargo, despite the commitments it had made in Berlin," says French Foreign Minister Le Drian. Turkey, allied with Al Serraji, defends itself by saying that France claimed to carry out the inspection in international waters, which "is not allowed". Instead, he holds Paris responsible for aggravating the Libyan crisis by providing support for General Haftar's self-proclaimed army. Before this incident, an Italian frigate engaged in patrolling with the European mission Irini had had the same experience: three Turkish frigates invited her to move away from a cargo ship, bound for Misurata, which she intended to inspect. Tension also between the United States and Russia. General Bradford Gering, UsAfricom operations commander, said in a statement that "Russia's significant involvement in Libya increases violence and postpones a political solution". At the end of May, Afromom had reported that at least 14 MiG-29s and numerous Su-24s had been deployed to Libya in violation of the embargo. "There is a fear that these Russian planes will be driven by inexperienced mercenaries and without respect for international law, endangering innocent lives," adds Gering, who accuses Moscow of fueling violence and instability in the African continent in this way. The American position is ever closer to that of Erdogan, who gave indications to his followers to develop the Libyan dossier in collaboration and harmony with Washington. "We are working together to resolve the crisis: a positive exchange is underway between Presidents Erdogan and Trump" says Foreign Minister of Ankara, Mevlut Cavusoglu, who yesterday was in Tripoli to discuss with Al Serraji a possible path to peace and future economic collaboration, especially in the energy field, between the two countries. The negotiations between the contenders, in any case, continue. The commission of the 5 officers on each side who discuss ceasefire continues the confrontation, albeit through Unsmil mediation. A new call for political solution has come from the Arab League, which supports the Cairo declaration to end the crisis. The deputy secretary general, Hussam Zaki, says that Turkey, behind its agreement with the Fayez al-Sarraj government, actually hides economic, political and military objectives. Zaki stressed that the Arab League condemns the Turkish intervention also in Syria and Iraq. Egyptian President Al Sisi, one of Haftar's main supporters, received Greek Foreign Minister Nikos Dendias in Cairo. Greece shares many of Egypt's positions on the Libyan crisis, in particular after the new tensions between Athens and Ankara on drilling in the Aegean; explorations that Turkey has launched in a stretch of sea of which it claims sovereignty, based on an agreement with Tripoli contested by the Greek and Egyptian governments, which are highly critical of Erdogan's "hegemonic and expansionist" policies, which produce instability " manipulating the Arab world ".
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by Leonardo Sgura 18 June 2020 In recent days, off the Libyan coast, the clash between European naval units that monitor the UN embargo against supplies of weapons to warring factions and Turkish frigates deployed to protect has twice freighters bound for North African ports. A French frigate attempted to inspect one of these merchant ships, suspected of refusing to give credentials and destination, but was forced to desist after being "hooked" as a possible target by the radars of two Ankara frigates escorting her. NATO announces an investigation: "We will clarify what happened," said Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg, while Paris and Ankara are exchanging mutual accusations. "The main obstacle to peace and stability today is Turkey's continued violation of the embargo, despite the commitments it had made in Berlin," says French Foreign Minister Le Drian. Turkey, allied with Al Serraji, defends itself by saying that France claimed to carry out the inspection in international waters, which "is not allowed". Instead, he holds Paris responsible for aggravating the Libyan crisis by providing support for General Haftar's self-proclaimed army. Before this incident, an Italian frigate engaged in patrolling with the European mission Irini had had the same experience: three Turkish frigates invited her to move away from a cargo ship, bound for Misurata, which she intended to inspect. Tension also between the United States and Russia. General Bradford Gering, UsAfricom operations commander, said in a statement that "Russia's significant involvement in Libya increases violence and postpones a political solution". At the end of May, Afromom had reported that at least 14 MiG-29s and numerous Su-24s had been deployed to Libya in violation of the embargo. "There is a fear that these Russian planes will be driven by inexperienced mercenaries and without respect for international law, endangering innocent lives," adds Gering, who accuses Moscow of fueling violence and instability in the African continent in this way. The American position is increasingly close to that of Erdogan, who gave indications to his followers to develop the Libyan dossier in collaboration and harmony with Washington. "We are working together to resolve the crisis: a positive exchange is underway between Presidents Erdogan and Trump" says Foreign Minister of Ankara, Mevlut Cavusoglu, who yesterday was in Tripoli to discuss with Al Serraji a possible path to peace and future economic collaboration, especially in the energy field, between the two countries. The negotiations between the contenders, in any case, continue. The commission of the 5 officers on each side who discuss ceasefire continues the confrontation, albeit through Unsmil mediation. A new call for political solution has come from the Arab League, which supports the Cairo declaration to end the crisis. The deputy secretary general, Hussam Zaki, says that Turkey, behind its agreement with the Fayez al-Sarraj government, actually hides economic, political and military objectives. Zaki stressed that the Arab League condemns the Turkish intervention also in Syria and Iraq. Egyptian President Al Sisi, one of Haftar's main supporters, received Greek Foreign Minister Nikos Dendias in Cairo. Greece shares many of Egypt's positions on the Libyan crisis, in particular after the new tensions between Athens and Ankara on drilling in the Aegean; explorations that Turkey has launched in a stretch of sea of which it claims sovereignty, based on an agreement with Tripoli contested by the Greek and Egyptian governments, which are highly critical of Erdogan's "hegemonic and expansionist" policies, which produce instability " manipulating the Arab world ".
