'Null and void:' Egypt condemns Turkey-Libya maritime deal, reaffirms pact with Greece

Egypt has denounced Turkey's recent maritime deal with Libya as "null and void" and has reaffirmed its commitment to an agreement sealed with Greece. The Egyptian foreign ministry stated that the memorandum is without legal effect and that its ratification by the Libyan House of Representatives carries no legal consequences for Egypt.

This response comes in support of Greece, a long-standing partner in the Eastern Mediterranean, and highlights Egypt's reservations about the Turkish agreement, which contradicts a pact it has with Athens. The deal, which Turkey's eastern parliament unanimously approved on Tuesday, was first approved by Libya's Tripoli-based government in 2019.

While Khalifa Haftar, a general who previously fought against Tripoli's government, welcomed the ratification, the deal directly contradicts one Turkey signed with Greece. Greece responded by demarcating its maritime borders with Egypt in 2020, contradicting the Turkish deal. Egypt's rejection of the deal is significant as it is generally seen as close to eastern Libya's government.