Tunisia rejects Erdogan's request to allow Turkish forces to cross into Libya

A Tunisian official revealed that Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan asked during his visit to Tunisia to help transport equipment and allow Turkish forces to cross into Libya via Tunisia, and confirmed that the Tunisian president refused this.

7 January, 2020 11:49

NEWS DESK

The media adviser to the President of the Republic of Tunisia, Rachida El-Niefer, told Sky News Arabia that Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan asked President Qais Saeed that "Tunisia be cooperating with him regarding the transfer of equipment and allowing Turkish forces to cross through Tunisia."

Al-Nifer said that Erdogan requested the use of Tunisian lands and the air and sea fields for military intervention in the neighboring country.

Al-Nifer added that the Tunisian president rejected Erdogan's request, noting that the talk about the smell of smoke in the press conference room was not "free".

"Rather, it reflected Erdogan's annoyance at the results of the talks, which ended in the refusal to use land, airspace or the Tunisian maritime space for any Turkish military intervention in Libya."

This came during Erdogan's visit to Tunisia two weeks ago, which focused in particular on the situation in Libya after the Turkish president announced that he would send troops there.

J.O