Turkey moved closer to military support for Libya's internationally recognised government late on Saturday when a bilateral deal that provides for a quick reaction force if requested by Tripoli was sent to parliament.
Ankara's latest move raises tensions in the Mediterranean region and risks confrontation with forces led by Khalifa Haftar based in eastern Libya, where rival political factions have been based since 2014.
Late last month, Ankara and Tripoli signed an expanded security and military accord and, separately, a memorandum on maritime boundaries that Greece said violates international law. While the maritime accord has been sent to the United Nations for approval, the military deal has been presented to Turkey's parliament.
"Parliament will enter it into force after approval," Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said on Sunday. It was unclear when a vote would take place in the parliament controlled by President Tayyip Erdogan's ruling AK Party (AKP) and its nationalist MHP allies.
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