Strategic Council Online: What is evident in the Turkish government’s intentions to deploy troops, or in other words maintain military presence in Libya, is that the Erdogan government not only in words but in practice wants to somehow revive the Ottoman Empire by restoring Turkey’s leadership in the Muslim world through a formidable foreign policy game.
Dr Ghadir Golkarian, professor at the University of Near East, Cyprus
Strategic Council Online: Despite the presence of representatives of the four major international organizations, the Berlin Conference was a venue for the rivalry of various big players and profit-seeking of European powers over its resources rather than showing conciliation and convergence on a ceasefire and peace in Libya.
Jafar Ghanadbashi – African Affairs Expert
Strategic Council Online: An Asian affairs expert has described a security conference between heads of Turkish and Syrian intelligence agencies in Russia after long years an important and eye-catching development. “Considering its field victories Syria seems to have sent a strong message to the Turkish authorities about complete withdrawal from Syrian lands and the decision to fight terrorism and return all occupied Syrian lands.
Strategic Council Online: In Libya, extensive military and material support is extended to General Khalifa Haftar. In regional level too, countries like Jordan, Sudan, UAE and Egypt extend logistical, financial and military support to Haftar. Therefore, the probability of his victory and the defeat of Faiz al-Seraj is one of the leading scenarios.
Strategic Council Online: A university professor cited Moscow’s announcement that Khalifa Haftar has left Moscow without signing a ceasefire agreement with the Libyan National Unity Government, saying: “Until the Arab countries are convinced that Khalifa Haftar will have the upper hand in the agreements to be reached, they will not be willing to allow him to agree to a ceasefire.”
Strategic Council Online: Despite the geographical, strategic and economic importance of Libya for Turkey, the Mediterranean movements of Ankara occur within the framework of a new policy Recep Tayyip Erdogan seeks to apply.
Siamak Kakai – Turkey Affairs expert
Strategic Council Online: An expert on African affairs says the proxy war in Libya has somehow started with the intervention of the regional states, mainly the Arab states. He considers the ineffectiveness of the National Unity Government a means to further intensify the provocative efforts of Khalifa Haftar, emphasizing that in these circumstances, one cannot virtually draw a good perspective for the future of the Libyan government.
Strategic Council Online: The West, along with the UAE and Saudi Arabia, are behind General Khalifa Haftar in the Libyan unrest while Turkey, Qatar and the United Nations stand against him and support the legal rule of Fayez al-Sarraj.
Jafar Ghanadbashi – African Affairs expert
