The US needs to play a more active role in Libya, both in achieving a ceasefire and in political talks, Reuters reported referring to the Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu.

According to him, the participation of the US, a NATO ally, is important for protecting the interests of the alliance. 

He noted that officials from Turkey and the US will discuss possible steps as the Turkish and the US president agreed during a call on Monday. 

“For some reason, the United States has not been that active in Libya, perhaps because of past traumas,” Cavusoglu said in an interview with NTV.  “The United States needs to play a more active role, both for achieving a ceasefire and in the political process.”

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has earlier welcomed the resumption of UN-led talks between the warring parties in Libya and called for speedy talks to achieve a ceasefire.

Cavusoglu, who rejected Egypt’s offer of a ceasefire as an attempt to save General Khalifa Haftar, said Thursday that only a long ceasefire under the auspices of the UN would be acceptable.