Britain is poised to send a warship to the Mediterranean to tackle arms smugglers trying to get weapons into Europe.
The Prime Minister told fellow leaders at the G7 summit in Japan the UK was ready to take an "active leadership role" in building the capacity of Libya's coastguard to clamp down on smuggling operations.
The UK has this week deployed four military planners to the Rome HQ of the European Union's Operation Sophia mission to tackle people-trafficking in the central Mediterranean, with the goal of preparing a plan to improve the effectiveness of the Libyan coastguard.
The newly established Government of National Accord (GNA) in Tripoli has already requested support from the UK in improving coastguard maritime operations, and it is thought this may soon be followed by a request for international ships to operate in Libyan waters.
If this request is received, the UK will seek the extension of Sophia's mandate, as well as a Security Council resolution at the United Nations enabling its forces to assist in the interception of arms shipments.
Reports have suggested that arms left over from the military forces of ousted dictator Muammar Gaddafi have been finding their way into Europe, while Isis militants in the extremist group's Libyan stronghold of Sirte have been bolstered by deliveries of weapons from overseas.The European Union this week agreed to help rebuild Libya's shattered navy and coastguard to tackle migrant smugglers after a plea for aid from the new UN-backed unity government in Tripoli.
A UN Security Council resolution would be needed to go after arms traffickers on the high seas, ministers said at the time.
"We will now take an active leadership role in that process ... Once the relevant U.N. security resolutions are in place, we intend to deploy a navy warship to the region to assist in the interception of arms and human smuggling," a Government spokesman said
The UN-backed Libyan Prime Minister Fayez Seraj, who has yet to establish his government beyond Tripoli, wrote to EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini to request the naval support, as well as possible training for Libyan security personnel.
A British government official said there had not yet been a formal request from Libya to operate within its waters, but one was expected "fairly swiftly". The warship could be operating in the area within weeks, the official added.
Additonal reporting by agency
