The Turkish Ministry of Defense announced that personnel from the “TCG GEMLİK” frigate, part of the naval task group, conducted weapons training off the coast of Libya.
The official ministry account on the “X” platform stated on Saturday that the exercises included the “SAT” (Underwater Attack Team) and “SAS” (Underwater Defense Team) off the Libyan coast.
Turkey has been actively participating in various military drills in 2024 to enhance its military readiness and strengthen its ties with NATO and other international allies.
In March, a report by Bloomberg confirmed that the Turkish Navy is continuously patrolling the Mediterranean and Aegean Seas to assert its security and energy interests in the region.
In April, Turkey participated in the Neptune Strike military drills, which were NATO’s largest exercise since the Cold War. The drills included the use of a nuclear-powered French naval ship and aimed to demonstrate the alliance’s ability to respond to threats rapidly and effectively.
Moreover, Turkey held the Seawolf-II exercise, involving over 15,000 personnel and numerous naval assets, and the EFES-2024 exercise, which included both computer-assisted and live-firing phases. These exercises, held in May, aimed to test and improve Turkey’s military readiness and coordination with international forces
On May 31, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan received the head of the Libyan Government of National Unity, Abdul Hamid Dbeibah, at the presidential complex in Ankara.
Erdoğan emphasized the necessity for the two countries to maintain close contact to protect their mutual interests in the Eastern Mediterranean.
The Turkish president added, “It is beneficial to start a dialogue to ensure unity and solidarity in Libya by maintaining the legitimacy of the Government of National Unity.”
