Libya's parliament ratifies maritime deal with Turkey despite regional opposition

On Tuesday, the Libyan House of Representatives ratified a maritime boundary agreement with Turkey, a move that has been met with categorical condemnation from Greece, the Republic of Cyprus, and the European Union. While Turkish Cypriot officials praised the decision as a stand against discrimination, Greek Foreign Minister Giorgos Gerapetritis declared the memorandum invalid, asserting that it lacks legal or political value and will not be implemented under any circumstances. Athens emphasized its intention to respond in a planned manner rather than acting impulsively.

The European Union reaffirmed its 2019 position, labeling the deal as "null and void" for infringing upon the sovereign rights of third states and failing to comply with the international Law of the Sea. During a meeting in Brussels on Wednesday, EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas raised the issue with Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, stressing that such actions undermine regional stability. Both the EU and Greek officials highlighted that the agreement disregards established international legal frameworks.

Contextually, this development stems from a long-standing dispute in the eastern Mediterranean regarding maritime jurisdictions. Moving forward, Greece plans to leverage its diplomatic channels, including EU funding programs for Libya and Turkey's EU accession process, to contest the ratification. The EU has pledged continued support for Greece and Cyprus while calling for a cessation of outside interference in Libya.