Egypt Reaffirms Mediterranean Sovereignty in High-Level Talks with Turkey

Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty met with his Turkish counterpart Hakan Fidan in Istanbul on Friday. The meeting took place on the sidelines of the Quad mechanism meetings, which also included three European nations. The two ministers engaged in discussions concerning developments in Libya. During the talks, Minister Abdelatty underscored Egypt’s unwavering position in support of Libya’s unity, sovereignty, territorial integrity, and stability. He also highlighted Egypt's commitment to bolstering Libyan state institutions to safeguard the interests and aspirations of the Libyan people.

Furthermore, the Egyptian Foreign Minister explicitly stated Egypt’s complete rejection of the 2019 Memorandum of Understanding concerning the delimitation of maritime jurisdiction zones in the Mediterranean. He emphasized the critical importance of adhering to international maritime law, specifically the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), for defining Exclusive Economic Zones (EEZs) and continental shelves in a manner that upholds principles of justice and equity among nations.

In response, the Turkish minister conveyed his understanding of Egypt's concerns regarding the situation in Libya. He acknowledged the significance of ongoing consultation, coordination, and joint actions to address these concerns and to bolster efforts aimed at achieving security and stability in Libya.