Turkey and Russia's deepening roles in Libya complicate peace efforts

Ankara's assertive foreign policy is an increasing factor in broad geopolitical dispute

Plans for a durable Libyan ceasefire are to be endorsed by diplomats from 15 countries on Monday, but the value of the commitments made in the virtual meeting are belied by signs that deepening involvement in the country by rival external powers including Russia and Turkey could complicate efforts to form an interim government of national unity.

The Libya conflict has to be seen as not only a long-running power struggle in the country itself but also part of a wider geopolitical dispute in which Turkey's assertive foreign policy - ranging from the eastern Mediterranean to Azerbaijan - is an increasing factor.