Turkish political analyst Muhannad Hafizoglu expressed his understanding of the criticism directed at his country regarding its role in Libya, stressing that the Turkish role, despite its contribution to preventing a bloody confrontation, is viewed by many as a form of rejected foreign intervention.
In special statements to the “Asharq Al-Awsat” newspaper, Hafizoglu pointed out that the presence of Turkish military bases in western Libya has increased the sensitivity of the situation. However, he stressed in contrast that the dynamism of Turkish diplomacy and its ability to communicate with conflicting parties has made it a pivotal player that cannot be dispensed with, even when compared to the UN mission with its international mandate.
Hafizoglu explained that Turkey did not intervene to protect the “Special Deterrence Force” as was promoted, but rather sought to save the political future of the Head of the Government of National Unity, Abdul Hamid Dbeibah. He stated that the outbreak of a wide-scale war in the capital would have led to many casualties, which would have been enough to topple Dbeibah’s government and end any role for him on the scene.
Hafizoglu noted that Ankara prefers a smooth transition of power through agreements and international efforts, rather than being forced to hastily impose a replacement government that might not consider its strategic interests.