Türkiye questions legitimacy, purpose of EU mission off Libya's coast

By Ahmet Gencturk

ANKARA (AA) – Türkiye on Tuesday questioned the legitimacy, purpose and impartiality of the EU’s maritime mission off Libya's coast.

“After the unlawful boarding of a Turkish-flagged commercial vessel without the flag state Türkiye's consent in November 2020, Türkiye, as a matter of principle, rejects all similar requests,” said Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Tanju Bilginc on Twitter.

The remark apparently came as a response to a tweet by EU's Operation Irini on Monday claiming Ankara denied the request to inspect the ship, MV MATILDE.​​​​​​​

The European Union Naval Force Mediterranean Operation (IRINI) was launched in the Mediterranean Sea on March 31, 2020, following the Berlin Conference on Libya to oversee the UN's arms embargo on Libya.

The controversial IRINI has faced several criticisms as it has had no effect on arms shipments by land and air to warlord Khalifa Haftar and his allies.