Turkey wants to extend military presence in Libya by two more years
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Turkey has formally requested its parliament to approve a 24-month extension of its military mandate in Libya, according to a motion submitted by President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. The document highlights political and security developments in Libya since 2011 and stresses Ankara’s view that stability in the country remains crucial for regional security.
The motion reiterates Turkey’s support for UN-led initiatives and relevant UN Security Council resolutions aimed at protecting Libya’s sovereignty, achieving a permanent ceasefire, advancing political dialogue, and ensuring free and fair elections. It warns that ongoing political deadlock and governance challenges, including delays in organising elections, risk undermining the fragile calm and could have broader regional security implications.
Turkey’s presence in Libya is framed as consistent with existing bilateral agreements covering security and military cooperation, as well as longstanding political and economic ties between the two nations.
The motion emphasises that preventing a return to conflict is essential for the success of UN-sponsored political and military talks. Ankara also notes that renewed instability in Libya could reverberate across the eastern Mediterranean and North Africa, affecting regional stability and security.
