Page 6 - AfrElec Week 24

AfrElec COMMENTARY AfrElec

Nightmare looming in Libya?

Europe and Nato are hoping not to see Russian and Turkish military bases pop up across the Med

POLAND WHAT’S the worst scenario that could emerge As things stand, it appears Russia is holding
from conflict-torn Libya for Europe and Nato? back from fully engaging with Turkey over a
Perhaps a divided country with permanent possible ceasefire deal because of a GNA plan
Russian and Turkish military bases staring to seize Sirte, about halfway between GNA-held
across the Mediterranean from its east and west, Tripoli and LNA-held Benghazi, and the closest
respectively? Such an outcome may still sound a city to Libya’s main energy export terminals.
little far-fetched, but it can’t be ruled out. June 14 “Russia wants Turkey and the GNA to halt
brought a report from Reuters that related how military operations, particularly not attacking
a Turkish source had disclosed that Turkey and Sirte, Jufra and the oil crescent—and Ankara
Libya’s internationally recognised Tripoli-based has rebuffed this demand,” Galip Dalay, a fellow
Government of National Accord (GNA) were at Robert Bosch Academy, told Reuters. “If Turk-
discussing possible Turkish use of two mili- ish-Russian talks don’t bear fruit, we might then
tary bases in the North African country with a see escalation both in Libya and in Syria’s Idlib
view to a lasting Turkish presence in the south region [where Ankara and Moscow also back
Mediterranean. opposing sides],” he added.
Meanwhile, Russia apparently flew 14 MIG-
29 and Su-24 fighter jets to desert sites controlled France, Turkey in war of words
by the GNA’s adversary, the Libyan National Recent days, meanwhile, have seen Turkey
Army (LNA) under Marshal Khalifa Haftar, and France enter into a war of words over the
last week. This event led US Africa Command situation in Syria.
(AFRICOM) to note that Russian President In an interview with La Croix newspaper on
Vladimir Putin now had access to two air bases June 16, French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le
in Libya and there were fears that he might want Drian reiterated that Paris was not taking sides
to make that, and perhaps more, a permanent in Libya, but said that Turkey endangered Euro-
arrangement. The commander of AFRICOM, pean security by sending Syrian fighters to the
Gen. Stephen Townsend, said of the Russian country. “It’s a danger to ourselves, an unaccept-
move: “Just like I saw them doing in Syria, able strategic risk, because it’s 200 kilometres
they are expanding their military footprint in (124 miles) from the Italian coast,” he said.
Africa using government-supported mercenary France has denied that it supports Haftar,
groups.” Reportedly, no final decisions have been though it previously assisted him in fighting Isla-
made over Turkish military use of the Misrata mist militants. It has also stopped short of criti-
naval base and the al-Watiya air base, recently cising countries that openly support him, such as
recaptured by the Turkish-backed GNA. Egypt and the United Arab Emirates, while it has
repeatedly criticised Turkey’s stance.
Boosting oil, gas claims Cross Head Insisting Paris has swung behind Haftar, Tur-
A more permanent air and naval presence in key on June 16 angrily accused France of exacer-
Libya could reinforce Turkey’s growing influence bating the crisis in Libya and violating UN and
in the region. That might help boost its claims to Nato decisions by supporting his forces against
offshore oil and gas resources and pave the way the internationally recognised GNA.
for billions of dollars in contracting work, such France has called for talks among Nato allies
as energy and construction deals, once the fight- on what it said was Turkey’s increasingly “aggres-
ing ends. If there is one thing Turkey’s Erdogan sive” role in Libya and breaching of a UN arms
administration needs right now, it is more rev- embargo in arming the GNA, prompting Tur-
enues to help stave off a calamitous economic key’s foreign ministry to respond angrily.
crisis. “The support France has provided to the
“Turkey using al-Watiya ... is on the agenda,” putschist and pirate Haftar... has exacerbated the
added the \\ source. “It could also be possible crisis in Libya,” it said in a statement.
for the Misrata naval base to be used by Turkey.” “What should actually be a cause for concern
Ankara threw its support behind the govern- are France’s dark ties. It is unacceptable for a
ment in Tripoli last year after the GNA signed Nato ally to behave this way,” it added.
a maritime demarcation accord that it says pro- Ankara has sent military advisers and train-
vides Turkish drilling rights near Crete. But it is ers (and allied Syrian militia fighters) to Libya to
opposed by Greece, Cyprus, Israel and the Euro- support the GNA. Russia appears to have sent
pean Union, with Athens complaining that the Syrian adversaries of the militia fighters to fight
accord ignores the presence of Crete. for the LNA in the conflict. ™

P6 www. NEWSBASE .com Week 24 18•June•2020