The Federal Government of Germany agreed to German participation in the new EU surveillance mission ‘IRINI’ off the coast of Libya.
In January, sixteen states and organizations convened in Berlin and agreed on a German initiative to end outside interference in Libya.
“Germany, and its European partners must also be prepared to support measures to monitor the embargo through political means. Sanctions against states that violate the arms embargo cannot therefore be excluded,” said Alexander Graf Lambsdorff, a German politician of the Free Democratic Party of Germany.
The Tripoli-based Government of National Accord (GNA) has been engaged in a year-long war against the Libyan National Army (LNA), led by Field Marshal Khalifa Haftar.
The GNA is backed by Turkey and has been receiving weapons and fighters from Ankara, in addition to having two Turkish frigates off the Libyan coast. The weapons are thought to be delivered from the Turkish ports of Mersin and Izmir, to Tripoli and Misrata.
The EU’s naval mission ‘IRINI’, which was announced on March 31, aims to collect information and monitor the flow of arms into Libya. It will monitor the UN arms embargo on Libya by deploying aerial and maritime assets.