Turkey has reached an agreement with Libya’s eastern-based parliament on a contentious maritime boundary deal in the eastern Mediterranean, potentially paving the way for both countries to explore and exploit natural resources in the area.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan described the development as “significant” on Wednesday, according to his spokesman, drawing immediate condemnation from Greece and the European Union (EU).
The agreement establishes an exclusive economic zone (EEZ) between the Turkish and Libyan coasts, extending close to Greek islands, including Crete and Rhodes.
The designated maritime area would be shared by Turkey and Libya, granting both countries rights to explore and exploit natural resources, including potentially significant natural gas reserves.
However, the agreement has reignited tensions over maritime rights in the eastern Mediterranean, with Libya’s political divisions further complicating the dispute.
Libya has rival administrations based in the eastern city of Tobruk and the western capital, Tripoli.
Turkey signed the original maritime boundary agreement in 2019 with Libya’s internationally recognized government in Tripoli.
Greece has consistently opposed the deal, arguing that it disregards the maritime rights of Greek islands and effectively denies them their rightful exclusive economic zones in the disputed waters. After years of opposition, Libya’s eastern parliament ratified the agreement on Tuesday.
Erdoğan’s spokesman said the agreement was intended to promote “fair sharing, peace and stability in the eastern Mediterranean.”
The European Union, however, rejected the move, describing the agreement as legally invalid.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said she “deeply regretted” the ratification of the deal.
“This agreement infringes upon the sovereign rights of third states, it does not comply with the Law of the Sea, and is null and void,” she said. Greece also maintained that the agreement was illegal and ineffective.
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“Geography and the law of the sea cannot be changed by unilateral parliamentary resolutions that have no legal basis,” the Greek Foreign Ministry said.
Disputes over maritime boundaries and regional influence in the eastern Mediterranean have persisted for years, fuelled by competing claims to exclusive economic zones and broader geopolitical and military rivalries.
Other countries involved in regional disputes include Israel, Egypt and the United Arab Emirates.
