Why Libya says its maritime deal with Türkiye is legal despite EU and Greek objections
Libya’s eastern-based government has firmly rejected Greece’s objections to its 2019 maritime agreement with Türkiye, asserting that the deal remains valid under international law and is critical to Libya’s sovereign rights in the Eastern Mediterranean
Prime Minister Osama Hammad of the Benghazi-based administration stated that the Türkiye-Libya maritime accord is “internationally legitimate,” warning against foreign interference in Libya’s affairs. “Libya will not accept any challenge to its rights,” he said, accusing Greece of following a “policy of provocation and escalation.”
The statement comes amid renewed diplomatic tensions after Greece raised the issue at the European Union leaders’ summit in Brussels on June 26. The EU concluded that the 2019 Türkiye–Libya maritime memorandum “violates the sovereign rights of third countries and is not in line with international law,” echoing long-standing objections from both Greece and the Greek Cypriot administration.
“Instead of endorsing legally invalid claims, the EU should call on all its members to comply with international law,” Turkish Foreign Ministry Spokesman Öncü Keçeli posted on X (formerly Twitter), calling the deal “entirely legitimate.”
The maritime memorandum, signed in November 2019 and ratified by Türkiye’s parliament the following month, delineates exclusive economic zones (EEZs) between Libya and Türkiye in the Eastern Mediterranean. In 2022, a follow-up deal granted Türkiye exploration rights offshore and inland in Libya. Greece and several EU states have challenged the legality of both agreements, arguing they infringe on Greek maritime claims, especially around Crete.
Tensions escalated further after Türkiye’s state-owned energy firm, Turkish Petroleum Corporation (TPAO), signed a new agreement on June 25 with Libya’s National Oil Corporation (NOC) for seismic surveys in disputed waters.
The deal was followed by Greece deploying three naval vessels to the region, citing a need to curb migrant flows.
Meanwhile, a Libyan parliamentary source revealed that Libya’s House of Representatives is preparing to vote on ratifying the 2019 maritime agreement with Türkiye, signalling a shift in attitude amid improved ties between Ankara and eastern Libya, with a technical committee being formed to reassess the deal.
The Libyan Parliament’s Committee on Displaced Persons and Refugees slammed the EU’s position, accusing it of “double standards” and attempting to dictate Libya’s foreign policy. The committee insisted that international agreements signed by Libya are the sole prerogative of its sovereign institutions and must not be undermined by external powers.
The Eastern Mediterranean is rich in untapped energy resources and key to controlling migrant routes into Europe. With over 700,000 migrants currently in Libya, according to the International Organisation for Migration (IOM), both EU and regional powers view the country’s maritime decisions as deeply consequential.
This story is written and edited by the Global South World team, you can contact us here.
