Türkiye's Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan repeated his objections to NATO involvement in Libya at an international forum in March 2011, warning that any such operation would backfire and risk serious unintended consequences. Türkiye held that the alliance's mandate permits military action only when one of its 28 member states is attacked.
During a late-February visit to Germany, Erdoğan had already called the idea of NATO action in Libya unthinkable. He also opposed sanctions, arguing that ordinary Libyans would pay the price while major powers pursued interests tied to oil.
NATO Secretary-General Anders Fogh Rasmussen said the alliance had no plans to intervene in the oil-rich country but was reviewing all contingencies. He emphasized that any military action, including enforcement of a no-fly zone, would require a UN Security Council mandate. Alliance members remained divided over the no-fly zone proposal and over air strikes attributed to French President Nicolas Sarkozy. NATO did move to strengthen its naval presence in waters near Libya while assessing what humanitarian assistance the United Nations might eventually request.
Historical summary. TurkishPress restated this wire report, first published in March 2011, in its own words.