Turkey seeks veto role in Libya, not domination

Significance

The two discussed security cooperation, including training of Libyan security forces by Turkey. Ankara is stepping up its political and military engagements with the Libyan Government of National Accord (GNA) based in Tripoli. Turkish officials have openly admitted to providing the GNA with drones, armoured vehicles and other weapons to help the GNA fight back against forces allied with Field Marshal Khalifa Haftar, who launched a campaign to take control of the capital in April.

Impacts

• Foreign support to both warring parties will further erode the integrity of an already weak 2011 UN arms embargo on Libya.
• Increased instability will harm the EU’s efforts to work with GNA authorities to stem the flow of irregular migration.
• Turkish suspicions of US support for Haftar, who is a US citizen, further complicates bilateral relations between Ankara and Washington.