Greece Denounces Libya-Turkey Maritime Deal, Citing Mediterranean Stability Threat

Greece issued a stern warning on Monday, asserting that Libya's ratification of a contentious maritime agreement with Turkey poses a significant threat to stability in the Mediterranean region. Greek Foreign Minister George Gerapetritis stated in New York that the vote by Libya’s House of Representatives, based in the country's east, to finalize a preliminary 2019 accord with Turkey has generated “serious concerns for regional security and stability.” He further commented that the agreement “highlights a broader challenge to the international legal order, ensuring that arbitrary bilateral arrangements do not undermine established rules of international law or prejudice the rights of other states.” Gerapetritis made these remarks in a joint statement alongside representatives from Bahrain, Cyprus, Egypt, the EU, and the UAE.

The agreement, initially signed between Ankara and the internationally recognized Libyan government in Tripoli, western Libya, delineates a maritime corridor connecting Turkey's southern coast with Libya's northern coast. This corridor enables both nations to assert economic rights over potentially valuable oil and gas reserves located beneath the Mediterranean seabed. However, Libya's rival administration in the east, led by military commander Khalifa Haftar, had previously opposed the deal for years. At the time of its initial signing, Libya was embroiled in a civil war. Turkey has since cultivated stronger ties with Haftar and his allies while maintaining its close relationship with the Tripoli-based government, thereby enabling Ankara to engage with both factions of Libya's divided leadership.

Nevertheless, the agreement has intensified tensions with neighboring countries, notably Greece, Egypt, and Cyprus. Gerapetritis emphasized that the deal disregards the maritime entitlements of Greek islands, which are protected under the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea, a framework used for arbitrating territorial disputes. The accord could also potentially disrupt plans for the EastMed pipeline, a proposed project designed to transport natural gas from Israel and Cyprus, via Greece, to Europe. This pipeline aims to bolster Europe's energy security, but its intended route traverses waters that Turkey and Libya are now claiming under their bilateral deal.

A diplomat, speaking anonymously due to the matter's sensitivity, told The National that “Turkey and Libya have no adjacent coasts and no opposite coasts and, therefore, no common maritime boundaries.” The diplomat further stated, “The memorandum is null and void and produces no legal consequences. Equally, its purported ratification too is contrary to international law and of no legal effect.” This diplomat underscored that the two parties are ignoring numerous Greek islands, characterizing the proposed maritime boundary as a “blatant refashioning of geography” that contravenes international maritime law. “Accepting bilateral arrangements that disregard the applicable rules and principles of the law of the sea would set a dangerous precedent, undermining the international legal order,” the diplomat added.

Libya's UN envoy, Taher El Sonni, defended the agreement, describing it to The National as a “sovereign decision” and suggesting that nations challenging it should pursue legal avenues, including the International Court of Justice. He stated, “We see that this is a legitimate agreement, but we respect also all views of all neighbouring countries, and we try to have bilateral discussions with them.” The EU has also voiced criticism, asserting that the agreement infringes upon the sovereign rights of third countries and does not adhere to the law of the sea. UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres commented in Cairo on Monday that violations of international law concerning maritime agreements are unacceptable and that agreements incompatible with the convention should neither be recognized nor accepted. Egypt, a consistent supporter of the eastern Libyan authorities, also rejected the deal last week, declaring it null and void with no legal standing in Cairo. It is noteworthy that Cairo and Athens had previously signed their own maritime delimitation agreement in August 2020. Meanwhile, Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan asserted on Monday that criticisms from the EU and others “have no legitimate basis.” He added, “We are not seeking to score points against anyone in the eastern Mediterranean,” and insisted that those attempting to exclude Turkey from the region must respect Ankara's and Libya's will.