Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan issued a warning that the “Libyan chaos” could extend to the entire Mediterranean Sea during his Friday meeting with German Chancellor Angela Merkel in Istanbul.
”The chaos that prevails in Libya is likely to have consequences throughout the Mediterranean unless calm is imposed as soon as possible,” Erdogan said in his remarks at the opening of the new German-Turkish University in Istanbul alongside Merkel.
The Turkish leader stated that the international community needs to accelerate its response if it does not want terrorist organizations such as the Islamic State and al-Qaeda ”to rise above our heads.”
President Erdogan also reiterated his country’s support for the Tripoli-based government of Fayez Mustafa al-Sarraj, and noted that the Turkish military personnel going to Libya will train Saraj’s forces there.
Angela Merkel’s latest visit to Turkey is part of the wider German effort to contain Ankara, at a time when Berlin has shown support for Greece’s positions in the broader area — at least verbally — while at the same time placing great emphasis on its close economic ties with Turkey.
Almanya Şansölyesi Angela Merkel ile Ortak Basın Toplantısı https://t.co/oFrlALpZ0r
— Recep Tayyip Erdoğan (@RTErdogan) January 24, 2020