Turkey and the Regional Flashpoint in Libya

摘要

The civil war in Libya is marred by militarisation due to external involvements. Turkey is the latest international actor to intervene and is motivated by the desire to gain 'strategic depth' and establish a foothold in the MENA region. Turkey joined the conflict in support of the GNA and is now looking to establish a long-term strategic presence in the oil-rich country. This has given rise to concerns among Arab countries who see it as Ankara's grand designs to gain influence in the Arab-Islamic world. Ankara though, undeterred by the Arab coalition, has understood the limitations of its military campaign because of Russian and French presence and lack of the US enthusiasm to back its actions, and has therefore made diplomatic overtures to both Washington and Moscow. Nonetheless, despite lack of a clear military victory, Turkey has achieved its goals of entrenching itself in the Libyan theatre and making Ankara an inevitable actor in any diplomatic negotiations for resolution of the Libyan conflict. Furthermore, Turkey has displayed the efficiency of its sophisticated military hardware as well as placed itself in a stronger position to stake claim for a share in Libya's oil industry. The Turkish intervention has transformed the conflict into another regional flashpoint and has consolidated the Arab Gulf and Egyptian positions against Turkey's ambitions in the Middle East.