On Saturday, Turkey accused France of jeopardizing NATO’s security by supporting the Libyan National Army (LNA) led by Field Marshal Khalifa Haftar.
In an interview with the France 24 News Agency, Turkish presidential spokesperson Ibrahim Kalin said that his country supports the Government of National Accord (GNA) in Libya.
Kalin claimed that France is supporting the LNA and jeopardising the security of NATO members, Mediterranean and North African countries as well as Libya’s political stability.
Kalin argued that Sirte and Al-Jufra should be evacuated by Haftar’s forces for a “sustainable ceasefire.”
Libya has been mired in chaos since a 2011 uprising backed by NATO toppled longtime dictator Muammar al-Gaddafi, only to leave rival warlords fighting for control of the country’s oil wealth and drawing in international powers as the conflict has ebbed and flowed.
Turkey has forged strong ties with GNA Prime Minister Fayez al-Sarraj, sending sophisticated drones and air defence systems that helped repel Haftar’s recent offensive.
A high-level Turkish delegation including Kalin, Turkey’s foreign minister and Turkey’s intelligence chief paid a visit to Tripoli on Wednesday in an unannounced trip.
Kalin said a ceasefire in Libya would be possible if everybody went back to their 2015 positions, referring to the Skhirat agreement that was implemented that year.
