Greece maintains strong interest in Libya after Berlin conference

By George Gilson

If the geopolitical volatility in the Balkans before WWI led to its description as the powder keg or tinder box of Europe, today the same many be said of the Southeastern Mediterranean but on a more expansive geographic scale, drawing in the US.

The fluidity of the volatile chess game - the object of which is influence over the rich oil and gas deposits of the Mediterranean and of Libya - is such that the tables can literally be turned overnight.

While Ankara was trumpeting its intention to send troops and air and sea cover for the UN-recognised Sarraj government in Tripoli (Ankara has already sent at least 2,000  Islamist Syrian fighters, many linked to terrorism), the 19 January Berlin Conference on Syria decided on a stricter enforcement of the UN-sanctioned arms embargo on Libya and a multi-national force to oversee a prospective peace deal, which puts a damper on Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan to establish a legitimate geopolitical foothold in Libya.

Greece reportedly received assurances that it will be invited to future conferences.

Greece offers peace-keeping assistance

The Greek government has offered to send a peace-keeping force once the internecine conflict has ended. That involves sending  a contingent to Libya in the context of Operation Sophia, the  European Union Naval Force Mediterranean (EU NAVFOR Med), a military operation that was established initially in 2015 to help manage the migrant crisis.

Now it will continue that mission while also participating in enforcement of the arms embargo.

While rejoicing in a fragile cease fire, the conclusions of the Berlin Conference stressed the strictness of the arms embargo:

"18. We commit to unequivocally and...

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