Egypt prepares legal challenge against Turkey-Libya maritime memorandum

On October 25, 2026, Egypt announced it is preparing a comprehensive legal dossier to challenge the Turkey-Libya maritime memorandum following its ratification by the Libyan parliament. Egyptian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Nader Zaki stated that Cairo is coordinating diplomatic and legal actions with Greece and Cyprus to protect its sovereign rights in the Eastern Mediterranean, asserting that the agreement is invalid and violates Egypt's Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) and continental shelf.

The Egyptian response aims to counter the agreement's implementation, with Zaki emphasizing that the country will not accept these developments as a fait accompli. He confirmed that Cairo is in constant communication with Athens, Nicosia, and the broader European Union, which share the view that the memorandum is illegal. The Egyptian government reserves its right to take all necessary measures to defend its maritime borders, with officials hinting that potential responses could even include the suspension of ongoing drilling activities if deemed necessary to maintain security and sovereign integrity.