Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan told the Independent Industrialists and Businessmen Association (MÜSİAD) on Saturday that Turkey’s influence can been seen “throughout the region, from Syria to Libya, and from the Mediterranean to the Caucasus” due to his country’s “military, diplomatic and economic strength” in those places.
In 2019, the previous Libyan government signed a military deal with Turkey, which paved the way for Ankara establish a strong foothold in the North African country by sending its troops mercenaries.
In May 2021, the Libyan Foreign Minister Najla Mangoush called Turkey to comply with the UN resolutions and withdraw the Turkish troops and mercenaries.