Turkey was one of the few NATO members that opposed the Western campaign
against the regime of Libyan Col. Moammar Gadhafi. But officials said
Erdogan has decided that Turkey could not remain neutral after a United
Nations Security Council resolution against Tripoli's war on the rebels.
On March 21, Erdogan convened a meeting of military and intelligence
commanders to discuss Turkey's options. Officials said the prime minister
met with the military's General Staff and the National Intelligence Agency
regarding the situation in Libya. Later, the prime minister was said to have
telephoned U.S. President Barack Obama, regarded as a major ally.
Erdogan said he tried to persuade Gadhafi to end the war against the
opposition movement. The prime minister said Gadhafi must resign.
"I held phone conversations with both himself and his son on March 1 and
called on him to respect the will of the Libyan people," Erdogan said. "But he did
not listen."
Turkey has the second largest military in NATO. The Turkish Air Force is
based on the U.S.-origin F-16 multi-role fighter-jet, an asset shared by
many NATO states.
"I don't think Turkey will oppose NATO's decision," Turkish analyst
Cagri Erhan said. "Turkey's policy has to be in line with its ambitions of
becoming a regional leader.
On March 21, Erdogan, however, again warned against a NATO invasion of
Libya. But the prime minister did not rule out Turkish participation in such
a mission.
"Military intervention by NATO in Libya or any other country would be
totally counterproductive," Erdogan said. "In addition to being
counterproductive, such an operation could have dangerous consequences."
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