The Turkish Ministry of Defence, Hulusi Akar, stated that Ankara was dealing with Libya and aimed at unifying the country under the leadership of the Government of National Accord (GNA).
The Defence Ministry stated that Turkey would continue to provide what it called “advisory support, aid, and military training to Libya”. This is in reference to the shipping of thousands of fighters from Syria, to fight on behalf of the GNA.
Akar has also slammed the UAE for “malicious acts” in Libya and Syria, warning it will hold the Emirates accountable “at the right place and time”. Turkish officials have also accused Abu Dhabi of offering financial and logistical support to the banned Kurdish PKK organisation, to carry out attacks in Turkey.
The UAE Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Anwar Gargash, said that the provocative statements issued by Turkey’s Defence Minister were considered a new low in Turkish diplomacy. He stressed that international relations are not managed by threats or intrusions.
In December 2019, Turkey signed two MoUs on defence, maritime borders and gas drilling in the Mediterranean with the GNA. The maritime border agreement was rejected by several countries such as Egypt, Greece, Cyprus, and the UAE. It was described as an illegal act that violates the sovereignty of other Mediterranean states.