Eastern Libya parliament ratifies maritime memorandum with Turkey

On October 20, 2026, the House of Representatives based in Benghazi, Eastern Libya, officially ratified the 2019 Turkey-Libya memorandum on maritime zones. This decision marks a significant geopolitical shift, as the same political faction had previously spent six years characterizing the agreement as invalid and contrary to Libyan national interests. Furthermore, the assembly reversed its 2020 decision to sever economic and political ties with Ankara, signaling a full rapprochement between Benghazi and the Turkish government.

The memorandum, which defines maritime boundaries in the Eastern Mediterranean, remains legally contested by Greece and Cyprus, who argue it ignores the maritime rights of Crete and the Dodecanese and violates international law. Experts note that the region claimed by the agreement intersects with the planned route of the Greece-Cyprus-Israel (GSI) submarine power cable. In response, European Parliament President Roberta Metsola reaffirmed European solidarity with Athens and Nicosia, supporting previous condemnations of the agreement.

While the ratification does not alter the underlying legal status of the document, analysts warn it creates a 'fait accompli' that challenges regional stability. The move has reignited calls within Greece for a more assertive stance, including potential extensions of territorial waters to 12 nautical miles, as Athens and Cairo have begun discussions on expanding their own maritime boundary agreements in response to the Turkish maneuvers.