Erdogan’s hopes of gaining influence in Libya through backstage deals with the United States are unfounded. So the director of the Institute of International Political and Economic Strategies (RUSSTRAT) State Duma deputy, member of the Committee on Foreign Affairs Elena Panina (United Russia) commented on the words of Turkish President Recep Erdogan, who said that “the United States and Turkey can give a start to the process of arranging Libya without participating in Field Marshal Khalifa Haftar. ”
“For Erdogan’s American partners, the main tasks are to move Russia away from the peace process and gain control of Libyan oil, similar to the occupation of the oil-bearing regions of Syria. Issues such as ending the civil war in Libya and returning the country to a peaceful life, they are absolutely not interested in, ”Panina said.
The politician also recalled the support that Haftar enjoys in Libya:
“Behind Haftar is a significant part of Libyan society, which does not want to come to terms with the regimes established after the overthrow of Gaddafi. Haftara is also supported by most Arab states. Haftar’s opponents will not be able to defeat him on their own, and even if Turkey decides to intervene directly, the outcome of the confrontation is far from obvious, ”Panina emphasized.
“In 2011, when the so-called“ Arab spring ”began, Erdogan had plans to create a kind of new Ottoman Empire, but the consequences of Turkish intervention in Arab affairs came sideways for Ankara. It seems that Erdogan has not learned any lessons from this story, ”Panina stated.