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Cameron: It's In Britain's Interest To Support Libyan Government
The Prime Minister has insisted it is in Britain’s interest to support the new national unity government in Libya, as he confirmed the Royal Navy will deploy another warship to the region.
David Cameron said the ship would be sent to the Mediterranean to help tackle people-smuggling and the movement of arms.
However, a Downing Street spokesman was unable to say what type of Royal Navy ship would be sent and declined to discuss what evidence they have for illicit arms movements from the Libyan coast, including the type and quantity of weapons thought to be involved.
Arms left over from the military forces of ousted dictator Muammar Gaddafi have been reportedly finding their way into Europe.
Daesh fighters in their Libyan stronghold of Sirte have also been bolstered by deliveries of weapons from overseas.
HMS Bulwark has rescued migrants from the Mediterranean
The Prime Minister also confirmed that Britain is preparing to send a training team to the north African state to strengthen the country’s coastguard, under plans drawn up by the European Union.
Speaking during the G7 meeting in Japan, the Prime Minister refused to comment on reports that UK Special Forces are already fighting Daesh in Libya, amid concern from some MPs that Britain is getting involved in another conflict.
He said: "That country, because of the state that it is in, is a danger to all of us - danger in terms of the migration flows that are going through Libya, a danger because of the people-smuggling gangs that are active in Libya, and a danger because there are real signs that Daesh is gaining a foothold in Libya,"
"So clearly we have an interest in doing what we can to support the new government, to help it to grow, to help it have the ability to control that country."
Earlier this week the UK sent four military planners to the Rome headquarters of Operation Sophia, the EU’s mission to tackle people-trafficking in the Mediterranean.
In March, Mr Cameron floated the idea of extending Operation Sophia into Libyan waters after warning that the numbers of migrants attempting to reach Europe from the country could swell.
It’s believed the Libyan government will ask for international ships to operate in its territory to help it tackle the problems.
Around 150,000 migrants arrived in Italy from Libya by boat in 2015.
So far this year, more than 37,000 people have been intercepted in the sea.
Hundreds more are believed to have died after their overloaded vessels sank or capsized.
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