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The Turkish Parliament approved a presidential motion on late Monday extending the Turkish Armed Forces' (TAF) mission in Libya for 24 months, starting from Jan. 2, 2026.
The motion passed with support from the ruling Justice and Development Party (AK Party), the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP), the Republican People's Party (CHP), the Good Party (Iyi Party), and the New Road Party, with only the pro-Kurdish Peoples' Equality and Democracy Party voting against.
Turkish Parliament Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Fuat Oktay defended Türkiye's presence in Libya, citing historical ties, "Libya existed under the same political roof, under the same flag with us until it was occupied approximately 115 years ago."
"Mustafa Kemal Ataturk's resistance and struggle against imperialism in Tripoli alongside his comrades-in-arms is enough to explain the historical responsibility with which the TAF is present in Libya today," he added.
The main opposition party, CHP Deputy Chairman and Istanbul MP Namik Tan, announced that his party would vote in favor, marking a shift from two years ago when the party opposed the motion.
"We will say 'yes' conditionally to today's motion," Tan said.
"We are giving this support on the condition that peace and dialogue in Libya are achieved in the near term, that our soldiers' operations in Libya are not seen as unlawful by world public opinion, and that our soldiers return safely to Türkiye," he added.
"However, this absolutely does not mean that we support your adventurist policy," Tan noted, criticizing the government's broader approach.
MHP Group Deputy Chairman Erkan Akcay stated that Türkiye went to Libya not to wage war but to establish peace and support the legitimate Government of National Accord as envisaged in U.N. resolutions.
"Türkiye's Libya move is part of a whole that began with the Cyprus Peace Operation, continued with the establishment of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC), and was shaped by Blue Homeland policies," Akcay said.
"By saying 'yes' to this motion, we will say 'no' to those trying to encircle Türkiye, those who want to erase Türkiye from the Mediterranean, and their subcontractors—Israel, Greece and the Greek Cypriot side," he added.
Iyi Party Mugla MP Metin Ergun said his party would vote in favor, though he criticized the government's Libya policy as lacking transparency and parliamentary oversight.
"We know that the TAF is serving there with honor. With the hope that this will be the last motion, we as the IYI Party will vote 'yes,'" Ergun said, adding, "However, this should be considered an acceptance aimed at protecting the TAF's reputation, not support for the government's overall Libya policy."
Türkiye deployed military forces to Libya in January 2020 at the request of the internationally recognized Government of National Accord. Ankara also signed a maritime boundary agreement with Tripoli in November 2019, which Türkiye views as crucial for protecting its Mediterranean rights.
"The Turkish military presence includes training, military advisory services, capacity building and deterrence activities," according to AK Party Adana MP Sunay Karamik.
"This presence is not an occupation, not an intervention, and certainly not an adventure," Karamik said.
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