US State Department criticizes Libya-Turkey maritime agreement ratification

The United States Department of State has officially labeled the recent ratification of the maritime agreement between Turkey and Libya by the eastern Libyan House of Representatives as "unconstructive and provocative." This diplomatic intervention follows the Libyan parliament's unanimous vote on October 20, 2026, to ratify the memorandum of understanding originally signed between the two nations in 2019. The agreement seeks to define maritime borders and exclusive economic zones in the eastern Mediterranean, specifically placing a boundary line southeast of the Greek island of Crete.

Washington emphasized that its position regarding the disputed maritime zones remains unchanged, citing that the move has heightened regional tensions. The State Department reiterated its encouragement for all Mediterranean partners to resolve disputes through good-faith negotiations rather than unilateral actions. This response was issued following inquiries from the Greek newspaper Kathimerini and pressure from the Hellenic American Leadership Council, which had urged the U.S. government to take a firm public stance.

Greece and the Republic of Cyprus maintain strong objections to the 2019 deal, arguing that it infringes upon their sovereign rights. While the U.S. continues to call for bilateral dialogue between Greece and Turkey to settle these territorial disagreements, no further diplomatic actions or legal consequences beyond this statement have been formally announced.