Libya’s East Backs Türkiye-Libya Maritime Deal, Rejects Greek and EU Objections
Libya
The eastern-based Libyan government, headquartered in Benghazi, has publicly rejected Greece’s renewed objections to the 2019 maritime boundary agreement signed between Türkiye and the Tripoli-based government, affirming that the deal remains valid under international law.
PM Hammad: “Libya Will Not Accept External Interference”
Prime Minister Osama Hammad, speaking for the Benghazi-based administration, described the Türkiye-Libya maritime agreement as “internationally legitimate” and warned that any foreign attempts to undermine Libya’s sovereignty would be met with a firm response.
“Libya will not accept any challenge to its rights,” Hammad stated. “We consider Greece’s position a provocation and escalation tactic.”
He emphasized that Libya’s maritime rights are non-negotiable and must only be discussed within recognized international legal mechanisms. The government, he added, has already taken decisive steps in response to Greece’s position and hinted at further consequences if the objections continue.
2019 Türkiye-Libya Maritime Deal Sparks Regional Tensions
The Türkiye–Libya agreement, signed in 2019, defined exclusive economic zones (EEZs) in the eastern Mediterranean. In 2022, the accord was expanded through a memorandum that granted Türkiye exploration rights both offshore and on Libyan soil.
On June 25, 2025, the Türkiye Petroleum Corporation (TPAO) and Libya’s National Oil Corporation (NOC) signed a new memorandum of understanding to conduct seismic surveys within the maritime zones outlined by the 2019 agreement. This move further inflamed tensions with Athens.
Greek, EU Response: “Violation of Sovereign Rights”
Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis raised the issue at the recent EU summit in Brussels, where the EU Council reiterated its stance, declaring the Türkiye-Libya agreement inconsistent with international law.
The EU’s final communique stated that the memorandum “violates the sovereign rights of third countries” and declared it unlawful, reaffirming support for Greece and the Greek Cypriot Administration.
New Dynamics: East Libya–Ankara Dialogue
In a notable development, Libya’s eastern administration—historically aligned against Tripoli—has formed a technical committee to reexamine the Türkiye-Libya maritime deal. This signals a rapprochement between Ankara and Benghazi, potentially reshaping power alignments in the eastern Mediterranean.
