In the last two weeks, the French presidency is leading international efforts to mobilise efforts to prevent Turkey from engaging in more military incursion into Libya. Since the start of the year, Turkey is sending Syrian mercenaries, some of whom are part of dangerous Jihadist groups, to fight alongside the Government of National Accord (GNA) against the Libyan National Army (LNA).
The French diplomatic move began with a meeting with NATO to convince the Brussels-based organisation to play the role of mediator or deterrent against Erdogan’s whimsical policy toward Libya and the Mediterranean.
After the NATO meeting, from which Paris came out empty-handed, France went to the countries directly, contacting Italy and Greece to reject the maritime agreement concluded by the GNA and Turkey last November.
The French President Emmanuel Macron, then hosted his Tunisian counterpart Qais Saeed, who nonetheless issued a statement stressing the legitimacy of the GNA.
Macron finally knocked on the Russia’s door. President Vladimir Putin received his step forward with open arms, and on Friday the two leaders held a meeting via video conference in which they confirmed an identical Russian-French position on several issues, including the Libyan file.
In a statement after the meeting, the Kremlin said that Putin and Macron reaffirmed the necessity of a ceasefire in Libya.
Eventually, Macron tweeted that he would resume the trust dialogue that began with President Putin in Berganson, the summer official residence of the French presidents.
The French President also said that he will discuss with Putin, security issues in Europe, regional conflicts, including Libya, and the environment, adding that he will visit Russia soon. This indicates that his online meeting with Putin was positive and constructive, and may result in a unified position regarding the Libyan crisis, in contrast to the two countries’ dispute regarding Syria, where Paris still sees the Assad regime as a stumbling block to stability.