Erdogan Says Decided to Send Troops to Libya, Lawmakers to Vote Soon

Arab World

December 26th, 11:08am

Asharq Al-Awsat

Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan addresses the members of his ruling party, in Ankara, Turkey, Thursday, Dec. 26, 2019. Reuters

Turkey will send troops to Libya at the request of Tripoli as soon as next month, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Thursday. Turkish lawmakers could vote as early as next week on the move, Erdogan said, adding that his government will submit a bill to allow for the deployment of Turkish forces to Libya. “We will go to places where we are invited to, and not go to places we are not invited to,” Erdogan said. “At the moment, since there is such an invitation, we will accept this invitation,” he added, the Associated Press reported. Erdogan said the bill could be taken up by lawmakers on Jan. 8 or Jan. 9, as soon as parliament reconvenes from a recess. Erdogan's ruling party holds a majority in parliament, which signals the bill will easily pass in the house. According to Reuters, last month, Ankara signed two separate accords with the GNA, led by Fayez al-Sarraj, one on security and military cooperation and another on maritime boundaries in the eastern Mediterranean.

from Asharq AL-awsat https://aawsat.com/english/home/article/2053281/erdogan-says-decided-send-troops-libya-lawmakers-vote-soon