With the toppling of the Assad Regime in Syria, eyes will turn once again to the Eastern Mediterranean. At this point, military-diplomatic moves that can be developed through Libya and the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) are of critical importance for increasing Türkiye’s energy security and geopolitical influence in the Eastern Mediterranean. These moves can be analyzed from both military and diplomatic perspectives.
The Misrata and Al-Watiya Bases located in Libya hold a significant place in Türkiye’s regional security. Strengthening Türkiye’s presence in these bases will facilitate access to energy resources in the Eastern Mediterranean. By providing logistical support for the Turkish Naval Forces and Air Forces, operational capability in the region will increase. Additionally, Misrata and Al-Watiya are in a strategic position for the protection and surveillance of energy fields in the Eastern Mediterranean. These bases help Türkiye control energy corridors in the region.
- Misrata Base: Located in Libya’s northwest on the Mediterranean coast, Misrata is a strategic port city opening to the Eastern Mediterranean. This base supports Türkiye’s energy exploration activities in the Eastern Mediterranean and is in an ideal location, particularly for protecting maritime jurisdiction areas.
- Al-Watiya Base: Located in the west of Libya, near the Tunisian border, Al-Watiya offers access opportunities from both land and sea. This base is a key point for strengthening Türkiye’s military presence in Libya and controlling the airspace in the region.
Natural gas and oil resources in the Eastern Mediterranean carry great importance for global energy markets. The Misrata and Al-Watiya bases allow Türkiye to control these energy corridors and ensure energy security. Within the framework of the Türkiye-Libya Maritime Jurisdiction Agreement, these bases ensure the protection of energy fields by supporting the Turkish Naval Forces’ presence in the region.
Al-Watiya Base serves as a hub for the Turkish Air Force’s Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) and other aircraft. Thanks to this base, military operations in Libya are supported, playing an important role in ensuring air dominance in the region. Through the Misrata Base, logistical support is provided to the Turkish Naval Forces, increasing the sustainability of operations in the Eastern Mediterranean.
The Libya Conjuncture
Türkiye supports the Government of National Accord (GNA) in Libya. With the Misrata and Al-Watiya bases, Türkiye helps the GNA protect the capital, Tripoli, and gain superiority against rival forces such as General Haftar. These bases also allow Türkiye to conduct military consultancy and training activities in Libya. The existence of Turkish bases in the region is quite important for Libya’s stabilization and the increase of Türkiye’s influence.
Energy Competition in the Eastern Mediterranean
It is known that the Eastern Mediterranean possesses rich natural gas and oil deposits. Türkiye uses the Misrata and Al-Watiya bases to access these resources and gain an advantage in the regional energy competition. The Türkiye-Libya Maritime Jurisdiction Agreement guarantees Türkiye’s rights in the Eastern Mediterranean within the framework of international law. The Misrata and Al-Watiya bases ensure the practical implementation of this agreement.
These bases are also used to ensure the security of energy corridors, which is crucial for Türkiye to diversify energy imports and reduce energy dependency. Furthermore, ensuring the safety of Turkish seismic research and drilling vessels via these bases allows energy exploration activities to continue uninterrupted.
Regional and Global Geopolitical Effects
The Misrata and Al-Watiya bases strengthen Türkiye’s presence in Libya and the Eastern Mediterranean and consolidate its position as a regional power. Türkiye has solidified its position to be stronger at the negotiation table with other actors in the Mediterranean (such as Greece, Egypt, and Israel) through the bases obtained in Libya. Additionally, these bases could be used as an effective card in relations with Western allies like NATO and the USA.
Balance Against Russia and Other Actors
In Libya, the Russia-backed Wagner Group and General Haftar’s forces constitute a threat to the Turkish presence in the region, even if the field is currently stagnant. The Misrata and Al-Watiya bases ensure Türkiye can counter these threats and maintain regional balances.
By maintaining a permanent military and political presence through these bases, Türkiye has increased its influence primarily in North Africa, the Eastern Mediterranean, and the African interior. This situation has also helped Türkiye become an effective actor in Libya’s reconstruction process. These strategic bases have made it easier for Türkiye to protect and expand its economic investments (such as construction, infrastructure, and energy) in Libya.
Photograph: Anadolu Ajansı
