Turkey will represent U.S. interests in Libya after the United States closed its embassy in the country.

“Turkey has agreed to be our protecting power in Libya,” Spokesman for U.S. State Department Mark Toner told a briefing, RIA Novosti reports.

Turkey was playing such a role, when four New York Times journalists detained in Libya were released and handed over to Turkey’s embassy in Tripoli.

U.S. closed its embassy in Tripoli in February after Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi’s forces launched a violent attack against anti-government forces.