Libya: Europeans obtain the opening of a NATO investigation into the Turkish attitude

Meeting of NATO member countries, at the headquarters of the Atlantic Alliance in Brussels, in May 2015. (Illustrative image) REUTERS / Francois Lenoir

Text by: RFI Follow

Two incidents at sea on June 10, notably involving a French vessel which was threatened by the Turkish navy, are at the origin of a complaint filed by the French Minister for the Armed Forces before the Council of Ministers of Defense of NATO. .

Publicity

Read more

The meeting of Defense Ministers of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) promised to be stormy, "  energetic  " even according to the French Ministry of the Armed Forces , at least up to the incident. In early June, in the eastern Mediterranean, the tri-color frigate Courbet , on a mission for NATO, was put in play by two Turkish frigates who objected to the French ship controlling a cargo ship suspected of violating the embargo on the weapons to Libya. Turkish ships have illuminated the Courbet with their radars , which amounts to a hostile act.

Unacceptable behavior, insisted Florence Parly, the Minister for the Armed Forces: "  There can not be the slightest indulgence towards this kind of behavior. This particularly serious incident must be noted and our allies share our concerns. Eight European allies, including major countries, gave me clear support. So, I believe that reflection is necessary on what is happening in the Alliance. It is indeed necessary to look in the face the drifts that occur there.  "

Eight countries unite behind Paris

After trying to minimize the incident, the NATO secretary general finally yielded to pressure and announced the opening of an investigation into the clash between France and Turkey. It must be said that eight European countries have united behind Paris.

The investigation will most likely not result in any sanction. But the affair once again spreads the unease denounced for months by France within the Alliance. An organization deemed timid in the face of the actions of Turkey . Ankara is accused of violating the UN arms embargo by supporting the Tripoli National Unity Government. For the alliance, the only concrete response may be to temporarily prohibit Turkey from using the “NATO” code at sea. A modest retaliatory measure which in the immediate future is not likely to curb Turkish military activism in Libya.

Newsletter Receive all international news directly in your mailbox

I subscribe

Follow all international news by downloading the RFI application

google-play-badge_FR

  • Libya
  • Turkey
  • France
  • European Union
  • Nato

On the same subject

Libya: tension mounts within NATO between France and Turkey

Libya: both sides accused of war crimes

Turkish Foreign Minister Visits Fayez el-Sarraj In Tripoli