Turkish Defense Minister, Yasar Guler expressed his commitment to restoring security, stability, and tranquillity in Libya. He emphasised Ankara’s steadfast support for the Libyan people, aiming to ensure the unity of their territory.
Speaking to the Turkish channel “TRT World,” Guler stated, “Our goal is to contribute to a unified Libya, achieving the safety of its territory and political unity, and to live in peace, tranquillity, and stability.”
He added that intensive efforts are being made to create an environment of peace, calm, and confidence in Libya.
Guler claimed Turkey as the first country to extend assistance to Libya, in the aftermath of storm Daniel.
He affirmed that the cooperation between Turkey and Libya has steadily grown in recent years. Ankara has trained over 15,000 Libyan employees and provided health support to another 37,000.
Last month, Libya’s Parliament Speaker, Ageela Saleh arrived in Ankara, for an official one-day visit.
Saleh held discussions with his Turkish counterpart, Speaker Mustafa Şentop, covering various political issues and bilateral relations.
He also held talks with Turkish President, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan.
In November, the Turkish Parliament approved a presidential motion to extend the authorization for the deployment of Turkish troops to Libya for another 24 months.
The motion extends the mandate of Turkish troops beginning on 2 January. “The continuation of the ceasefire and the political dialogue process in Libya, and the establishment of peace and stability as a result of this process, are of great importance for Türkiye,” according to the motion signed by Erdoğan.
“The risks and threats arising from Libya persist for Türkiye and the entire region. In case of the resumption of attacks against the legitimate government, Türkiye’s interests in both the Mediterranean basin and North Africa will be adversely affected,” it said.
“Preventing the resumption of conflicts holds significance to ensure the conclusion of military and political negotiations conducted under the auspices of the United Nations,” it added.
The Turkish Parliament previously extended the mission of Turkish forces in Libya for 18 months. This extension enabled the Turkish military to provide essential training and mine-clearance expertise, elevating the Libyan forces’ combat capabilities to meet international standards.