CAIRO/ATHENS - Libya’s eastern-based parliament approved a disputed 2019 maritime-boundary agreement with Turkey on Tuesday, reversing years of opposition and drawing an immediate rejection from Greece.
The House of Representatives, aligned with military commander Khalifa Haftar, voted to adopt the memorandum originally signed by Turkey and Libya’s internationally recognized government in Tripoli. The agreement defines maritime jurisdiction in the eastern Mediterranean, where regional states have competing claims and are seeking access to potential natural-gas resources.
The vote gives the agreement support from both Libya’s western authorities and their longtime eastern rivals. The parliament also reversed a 2020 decision to sever political relations with Ankara, signaling warmer ties between Turkey and eastern Libya.
Greece Disputes the Deal’s Legal Basis
Greece’s Foreign Ministry said the parliamentary decision did not change what Athens called the agreement’s illegal and invalid nature. Greece argues that Turkey and Libya do not have opposite or adjacent coasts that would provide a legal basis for their proposed boundary because Greek islands lie between them.
Athens said the memorandum violates the international law of the sea and infringes on regional states’ sovereign rights. It said allies and partners had been informed and that Greece would take appropriate steps to protect its interests.
Turkey says the agreement complies with international law and can contribute to regional stability. Greece, Cyprus and Egypt have opposed it, arguing that the proposed boundary overlaps with their maritime claims.
Energy and Regional Influence at Stake
The dispute has major economic and strategic implications because maritime boundaries determine which governments may issue licenses for offshore exploration and development. Eastern Libya’s approval also strengthens Ankara’s position in Libya’s political settlement and its broader role in the eastern Mediterranean.
The development was reported by Reuters and The Associated Press. The original Russian-language report is available from Vesti Baku.