Turkey as the ‘protecting power of the United States’ in Libya
‘Turkey has agreed to be our protecting power in Libya,’ Mark Toner, a State Department spokesman, told reporters today, referring to the new role Ankara will play serving US interests in Tripoli.
There were signs Turkey was effectively playing such a role when Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu said on Monday that four New York Times reporters detained in Libya were released and handed over to Turkey’s embassy in Tripoli. Turkey had also successfully negotiated the release of a Guardian reporter detained in Libya.
Later on March 22, Monday, Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesman Selçuk Ünal stated that Turkey has officially assumed the diplomatic role for the United States, United Kingdom, Italy and Australia in Libya. The Turkish Embassy in Tripoli also started to serve as a consular contact point for the American, British, Italian and Australian nationals in Libya. A confirmation came from the U.S. diplomatic sources that Turkey is now a ‘protecting power’ for the United States in Libya.
Turkey presents 3 conditions for NATO support
Meanwhile the Turkish government re-asserts its position as ‘we will not point the gun at the Libyan people‘ and explicitly questions the long-term utility of a military strike. Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has indicated that further Turkish support for the NATO operations in Libya would be based on 3 conditions:
1- NATO’s ultimate mission should be to prove that Libya belongs to the Libyan people, (in other words, should end with the full sovereignty of Libya)
2- Libya’s natural resources and their ownership rights should strictly remain in Libya, (no secret or interim petroleum extraction, refining and transportation agreements)
3- The operation should be concluded as swiftly as possible, without turning into de facto invasion.
Another criticism came today by Turkey’s Chief Negotiator to the European Union, Egemen Bağış, who argued that ”the leader of an EU member state is undertaking a military action against the international law”, in reference to the French President Nicolas Sarkozy’s offensive to Libya.
Admiral Stavridis’ Ankara visit
Turkish sources indicate that there is ‘no consensus yet’ between Turkey and the United States regarding what to do after the Operation Odyssey Dawn. However, these sources do agree that during the most recent Obama – Erdoğan phone meeting, invitation of Admiral James Stavridis, NATO’s Supreme Allied Commander in Europe was decided in order to co-ordinate Turkey’s possible military efforts with the NATO operations. It is expected that Admiral Stavridis will inquire about the possibility of Turkey joining the arms embargo against Libya and establishment of a humanitarian mission. The Turkish Navy has 2 frigates close to Libya and 6 other ‘naval assets’ close to Crete. In the case of a Turkish decision to transfer the command of NATO assets in Turkey, several AWACS and tanker planes, in addition to several F-16 fighter escorts that will ‘under no circumstances engage in offensive operations’, will be prepared for duty in the Konya military airbase. Sources indicate that the Turkish navy can commit ‘slightly more naval assets’ solely for humanitarian and defensive purposes, if Turkey reaches an agreement with Admiral Stavridis.
Update as of March 23, Wednesday – 10.30 a.m. EDT: Turkey has agreed to send 5 frigates (one as a substitute) and 1 submarine to the NATO naval force in Libya. It is understood that the Turkish naval presence will primarily enforce the arms embargo and perform naval policing duties.
