Turkish Parliament Okays Sending Troops on Africa Mission
Turkish lawmakers approved Thursday sending troops on a year-long mission with EU forces in the Central African Republic and Mali as Turkey continues efforts to bolster its presence in the region.
The motion passed easily with support from the ruling party and the main opposition, although the pro-Kurdish People's Democratic Party (HDP) voted against it, the private Dogan news agency reported.
The parliament gave the army a mandate of one year for the deployments.
Defending the motion in parliament, Deputy Prime Minister Bulent Arinc said passing it was a requirement of Turkey's participation in the EU's Common Security and Defense Policy.
The EU has a military training mission in Mali (EUTM) and a peacekeeping mission in the Central African Republic (EUFOR).
Turkey is seeking to boost its economic and political presence in Africa and the vote came as President Recep Tayyip Erdogan heads to Equatorial Guinea to take part in a Turkey-Africa partnership summit.
Turkey is a key NATO member with the strategic goal of joining the European Union in the future.
Source: Agence France Presse
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