Turkey lashed out at the United Arab Emirates on Friday over what it called “malicious” actions in Libya, where the two countries support opposing sides in the nation’s grinding conflict, AFP reported.
Turkey backs the UN-recognized Government of National Accord (GNA) in Libya’s west, while the forces of eastern-based strongman Khalifa Haftar are supported by the UAE, as well as Saudi Arabia, Egypt and Russia.
“Abu Dhabi does what it does in Libya, does what it does in Syria. All of it is being recorded. At the right place and time, the accounts will be settled,” Defense Minister Hulusi Akar said in an interview with Qatari TV station Al Jazeera.
“It is necessary to ask Abu Dhabi, where this hostility, where these intentions, where this jealousy comes from,” he said, according to the account of the interview published on the Turkish Defense Ministry’s website.
Tensions have been steadily rising in the Libyan conflict in recent weeks, with Egypt threatening it would launch a military intervention if GNA forces try to capture their next target — the coastal city of Sirte, currently held by Haftar’s troops.
The Libyan conflict has worsened ties between Ankara and Abu Dhabi, whose relations have also been hit by escalating regional rivalries and Turkey’s support of Qatar in the Saudi-led conflict there.
While Turkey may avoid directly lashing out at powerful Saudi Arabia directly, it does not shy away from strongly criticizing the UAE.