On Tuesday, the Turkish Defence Minister, Hulusi Akar, held a meeting in Ankara with his newly-appointed Libyan counterpart, Salah Al-Din Al-Namroush. They discussed the latest developments in the country.
According to a statement by the Turkish Anadolu Agency, Akar confirmed that Ankara continues to provide training and advisory services in Libya.
During the talks, Akar also stated that Turkey will always support the UN-recognised Government of National Accord (GNA) in its ongoing conflict against the Libyan National Army (LNA). This support is in order to achieve permanent security and stability in the country. Akar stressed the struggle of the Turkish nation to maintain its independence, sovereignty, as well as protecting its interests.
Turkey threw its support behind the GNA in November, after signing a military cooperation pact alongside a maritime demarcation deal. This gave Ankara exploration rights in the eastern Mediterranean, that Greece and other countries reject.
Turkey’s support for the GNA “will increasingly continue,” President Erdogan said, during Prime Minister Al-Sarraj’s visit to Ankara. The Turkish head of state added that “A solution can only come under United Nations’ auspices. We aim to expand our cooperation including exploration and drilling operations. This is to take advantage of natural resources in the eastern Mediterranean, including in the Libyan territories.”