Macron says Turkey is 'playing a dangerous game' in Libya, Germany warns of regional crisis
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President Emmanuel Macron of France warned Turkey yesterday (June 22) over its intervention in the war in Libya.
"I have already had the opportunity to say very clearly to President [Recep Tayyip] Erdoğan, I consider that Turkey is playing a dangerous game in Libya today and going against all of its commitments made at the Berlin conference," he said during a press conference with Kais Saied, his counterpart from Tunisia, France 24 reported.
Turkey's military involvement in recent months has changed the course of the war in favor of the Government of National Accord (GNA), the UN-recognized government in the country, as it has been able to capture several key areas from the Libyan National Army (LNA) led by Khalifa Haftar.
Having deployed military personnel and Syrian fighters to Libya, Ankara is also providing arms and UCAV support to the GNA.
"We won't tolerate the role that Turkey is playing in Libya," Macron said.
When asked about Egypt's President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi's remarks that they may send troops to Libya if the GNA forces capture Sirte city, he said, "You noted the legitimate concern of President Sisi when he sees troops arriving at his border."
Forces backed by Turkey operate in the country's west and are not known to have a presence near Egypt's borders.
"This is a Mediterranean subject that affects us because today from Libya each day men and women are fleeing misery to come to Europe. Do you think we can let Turkey for a long time import Syrian fighters to Libya given everything we know?" Macron added.
At the Berlin Conference in late January, the parties agreed for a ceasefire and arms embargo as well as on ending foreign involvement in the war. It was attended by Turkey, Russia, the UAE and Egypt, and included representatives from the United States, United Kingdom, France, Germany, Congo, Algeria, United Nations, African Union and United Nations.
Germany: Libya tensions have evolved into a regional crisis
Heiko Maas, the foreign minister of Germany, warned yesterday that tensions in the region might escalate after Sisi's remarks and called for an immediate ceasefire, DW Turkish reported.
The country's government spokesperson Steffen Seibert also said that the tensions in Libya have evolved into a regional crisis after recent developments. (PT/VK)