Turkish government and opposition clash over Mediterranean policy

On October 26, 2026, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan dismissed international and European Union objections to the Turkey-Libya maritime memorandum as having no legal basis. Speaking after a cabinet meeting, Erdogan asserted that Turkey seeks only to protect its maritime rights and interests rather than provoke conflict, while advocating for the peaceful resolution of disputes through dialogue with coastal states.

Following these remarks, the leader of the Turkish opposition, Ozgur Ozel, launched a sharp critique of the Erdogan administration on October 27, 2026. Ozel accused the government of strategic failure in the Eastern Mediterranean, noting that while the Greece-Egypt maritime agreement has gained international acceptance, the Turkey-Libya memorandum remains largely rejected by the global community. Furthermore, Ozel criticized Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, suggesting his recent diplomatic stances signal a weakening of Turkey's position regarding Greek territorial waters and regional projects like the electrical interconnection between Greece and Cyprus.

Ozel also highlighted Turkey's exclusion from key defense programs, including the F-35 initiative and CAATSA sanctions, arguing that these factors, combined with diplomatic isolation, have left Turkey at a significant disadvantage compared to Greece in terms of regional influence and military capability.