Refusing peace: Cairo Declaration exposes Erdogan's intentions in Libya
Turkish concerns about the Egyptian initiative launched by
President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi from the Ittihadiya Palace on Saturday, June 6,
and agreeing to the Cairo Declaration in order to reach a political solution to
the crisis and an immediate ceasefire causing bloodshed on Libyan soil as a
prelude to rebuilding the country and its institutions.
Cairo Declaration
The Cairo Declaration called for an agreement concluded
between Sisi and Libyan National Army (LNA) commander Field Marshal Khalifa
Haftar, alongside Libyan Parliament Speaker Aguila Saleh, to form a Libyan
presidential council that would guarantee the representation of Libya’s three
regions, as well as the dismantling of extremist groups.
However, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan is anxious
about the soft power that Egypt represents in the Libyan crisis, which
contradicts his interests and ambitions to obtain the oil wealth of the
Mediterranean region. Erdogan has failed to renew the Ottoman dream, control
the region, and justify his interventions in Libya to help the terrorist
Government of National Accord (GNA) by supporting it with militias and
mercenaries.
Hard blow
Turkish affairs researcher Mohamed Rabie El-Daihy told the
Reference that the Cairo Declaration is a devastating blow to Turkey’s
ambitions in Libya, but it demonstrates to the whole world the extent of
Egypt's keenness on a political solution to the Libyan crisis, unlike the
Turkish role based on a military solution and support for terrorism in the
country. There have been international reactions in support of the Cairo
Declaration and support for the Egyptian position based on a set of foundations
and criteria, the first of which is the ceasefire and the resumption of the 5+5
negotiations, as well as the need to for the militias to disband and surrender
their weapons. Major countries around the world, including all European
countries and the majority of Middle Eastern countries, have welcomed the
Egyptian initiative.
Erdogan's interests damaged
Daihy added that the Turkish position rejecting this
initiative came in the context of its fear of dismantling armed militias loyal
to Erdogan, as well as of losing another opportunity to support the Brotherhood
in the region, as Turkey considers Libya a Turkish state and the last outlet
for supporting the Brotherhood in the region in order to revive the Ottoman
dream. The other Turkish goal is to seize Libya’s wealth, which will also be
out of reach for Ankara if a political solution is reached.
Claiming protection
Turkey’s presence in Libya is mainly based on the idea of
supporting armed groups under the pretext of protecting the Sarraj government
in exchange for Turkey’s seizure of Libya's gas wealth, as well as to annoy the
European countries and Egypt through its presence in Libya. In addition, Turkey
does not want Libya to lose its important position as part of the Turkish
strategy to revive the Ottoman caliphate and facilitate Turkey’s infiltration
into Africa.
Expected rejection
Daihy stressed that everyone should be aware of Turkey’s
rejection of this Egyptian initiative, which is expected in light of Turkish
stubbornness and Erdogan's announcement that his country will continue to send
mercenaries to Libya no matter what the cost. But this stubbornness, which is
now exposed to international public opinion, will eventually lead to
international intervention to limit the Turkish role in Libya. The continuation
of Turkey’s actions in Libya is also a direct threat to Egyptian national
security, which was confirmed by President Sisi during the press conference for
the Cairo Declaration. This means that the continued sending of mercenaries to
Libya and Ankara’s failure to adhere to the agreement may be followed by an
Egyptian intervention to protect its national security, which the Turkish
regime fears, as Ankara seeks to control most of Libya by any means in order to
achieve victories in the field that enable it to show off in front of its
supporters at a time when they are beginning to lack confidence in Erdogan’s
policies, confirming the failure of his project.
