Greece rejects Libya-Turkey maritime deal after eastern parliament approves pact
Greece has rejected the approval by Libya’s eastern parliament of a maritime agreement with Turkey, saying the deal breaches international law and infringes on the sovereign rights of countries in the eastern Mediterranean. Libya is divided between two governments, one in the west, based in Tripoli and another in the east in Benghazi. The deal was originally agreed to by the government in the…
The Greek government has dismissed a maritime accord between Libya and Turkey following its approval by the eastern Libyan parliament. The agreement is deemed illegal and infringes upon the sovereignty of nations in the eastern Mediterranean by Greece. Libya is split between two governments, one in the west, headquartered in Tripoli, and another in the east in Benghazi.
The pact was initially endorsed by the western government. The eastern House of Representatives, aligned with Field Marshal Khalifa Haftar, unanimously approved the 2019 deal on Tuesday, after initially opposing it and deciding to sever political ties with Ankara. The agreement delineates maritime jurisdiction zones between the two countries in the Mediterranean, where territorial disputes and offshore energy exploration have heightened tensions.
Greece, Egypt, and Cyprus have consistently opposed the deal, viewing it as a violation of their own maritime claims. The Greek Foreign Ministry stated that the parliamentary vote did not alter the deal’s "illegal, null and void" status. Athens contended that Turkey and Libya lack adjoining coastlines, thus lacking a legal basis for delimiting maritime zones.
Greece asserted that the agreement disregards the maritime rights of its islands. The statement urged the Libyan side to refrain from actions that contradict international law and destabilize the Eastern Mediterranean, notifying its partners and allies and taking necessary steps to safeguard its sovereign rights. Subsequently, Greek Foreign Minister Giorgos Gerapetritis conversed with his Cypriot and Egyptian counterparts over phone.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen expressed regret over the Libyan parliament’s ratification of the agreement, emphasizing the EU’s opposition to the deal and its commitment to Greece and Cyprus. She emphasized that the arrangement encroaches on the sovereign rights of third states, contravenes the Law of the Sea, and is null and void.
Turkey's Foreign Ministry welcomed the Libyan parliament's decision, asserting that the agreement respects the mutual rights and interests of both nations under international law and equity principles. Turkey remains committed to collaborating with all partners to ensure security, stability, and peace in the Mediterranean basin.
Athens and Cairo previously signed a deal establishing an exclusive economic zone in the eastern Mediterranean in 2020, which Turkey opposes. The vote signifies a shift in eastern Libya's relations with Turkey, which intervened militarily in 2020 to support the Tripoli government against Haftar's forces. Relations between Ankara and Haftar's faction have since improved.
Field Marshal Haftar's son and deputy, Lt Gen Saddam Haftar, welcomed the decision, describing the agreement as a means of safeguarding Libya's economic interests in the Mediterranean. This move could complicate efforts to resolve competing maritime claims in the eastern Mediterranean, a strategically vital region rich in natural gas resources.
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