Diplomatic coalition formed against Turkey-Libya maritime memorandum

Following the ratification of the 2019 Turkey-Libya maritime memorandum by the Libyan House of Representatives, Egypt, Greece, Cyprus, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, and the European Union have formed a unified front to challenge the agreement. During a session at the United Nations in New York on October 26, 2026, Greek Foreign Minister George Gerapetritis presented a joint declaration stating that the memorandum is invalid, does not produce legal effects, and violates the sovereign rights of third states. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, speaking from Cairo, emphasized that any action inconsistent with the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea is unacceptable and must be rejected.

Simultaneously, regional tensions have risen as the Libyan administration in the east attempts to navigate its relationship with Turkey. Saddam Haftar, son of Field Marshal Khalifa Haftar, visited Cairo on October 25 to address Egyptian concerns, while talks in Ankara regarding the potential unification of Libyan military forces—involving officials like Abdulsalam al-Zoubi—have struggled to yield a final agreement. As Turkey continues to push for regional influence and economic cooperation, the participating coalition remains committed to protecting international law and maritime stability in the Eastern Mediterranean.