He referred to increased diplomatic contacts between Turkey and Libya, including Defense Minister Hulusi Akar and top military commander Yaşar Güler’s recent visits to Tripoli, as "shadow marking." Having integrated its Libya initiative into the broader defense of Turkish interests in the Eastern Mediterranean, Ankara’s support for Tripoli is no short-term commitment. In this regard, what Erdoğan describes as shadow marking is about the next decade or two of bilateral relations. Russia, another country that adopted the shadow marking approach, dispatched its ambassador to Libya in neighboring Tunisia. In Libya, which happens to be on the crossroads of shadow marking and engagements from many countries, Turkey remains in the best position to make long-term contributions.

Source: The North Africa Journal July 05, 2020 21:00 UTC