Turkiye-Libya Maritime Deal Sparks EU, Egypt Opposition: What You Need to Know

Libya and Turkiye conducted a joint naval exercise in Tripoli on September 28, 2022. This follows the Libyan parliament's backing of a 2019 maritime deal with Turkiye, which delineates maritime boundaries in the Mediterranean Sea. The deal, initially signed by the UN-recognised government in Tripoli, has drawn strong opposition from Egypt and the European Union, who have declared it "null and void." The Tobruk-based House of Representatives unanimously approved the agreement, reversing a previous rejection.

Israel has also condemned the move, and Greece has stated that the agreement violates international law, briefing the United Nations Security Council. Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan defended the deal as "entirely legitimate."

The memorandum of understanding, signed in Istanbul on November 27, 2019, establishes a sea border between Turkiye and Libya. Turkiye provided support, including drones and military advisers, to the Tripoli government in 2020 to repel an offensive by Khalifa Haftar's forces. The deal allows Ankara to claim significant areas in the eastern Mediterranean, potentially rich in gas.

Egypt's opposition stems from the claim that the deal encroaches on Egyptian waters. Cairo stated the agreement infringes upon Egypt's sovereign rights within its exclusive economic zone and continental shelf, asserting it has no legal consequences for Egypt. Despite President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi's historical support for Haftar, relations have reportedly cooled. Cairo is now a security ally of Ankara, and Egypt did not object to a maritime line drawn between Benghazi and Turkiye in July. Reports suggest rapprochement between Ankara and Haftar's command includes agreements on military facilities and training programs.

The European Union's opposition is based on the assertion that the deal infringes upon the sovereign rights of its member states, Greece and Cyprus. The EU stated the memorandum does not comply with the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). Athens argues the deal disregards Greek islands, violating its maritime territory. Analysts suggest the deal is seen as a Turkish attempt to block the Great Sea Interconnector, a subsea power cable project linking Greece, Cyprus, and Israel. Turkiye is not a signatory to UNCLOS, thus not bound by its maritime boundary rules.

Ankara maintains the deal is lawful and in effect, safeguarding the rights of both nations based on international law and equity. Foreign Minister Fidan reiterated its legitimacy from legal and statutory perspectives.

The shift in the eastern Libyan parliament's stance is attributed to Turkiye's long-term engagement and new leadership within the parliament. Following a July agreement with Haftar's forces, the eastern parliament elected a new speaker who previously chaired the Libyan-Turkish parliamentary friendship committee. This turnaround is linked to efforts to secure the presidency under a US mediation plan, with Turkiye being a key external power in Libya.

While both of Libya's rival power centers now back the deal, this unification does not extend to the core issues dividing them, such as control over the budget, army, and electoral commission. The implementation of the deal is expected to face diplomatic and slow pressure, with potential risks of naval incidents and involvement of EU naval missions.