Turkish President Erdogan defends maritime agreement with Libya

On October 26, 2026, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan addressed the criticism surrounding the ratification of the Turkey-Libya maritime memorandum. Speaking after a cabinet meeting, Erdogan dismissed the objections raised by the European Union and other international parties as lacking any legal basis.

The Turkish president argued that the agreement is a sovereign matter between Turkey and Libya, asserting that those attempting to exclude Ankara from the Eastern Mediterranean must respect the will of the involved nations. He emphasized that Turkey's objectives are limited to protecting its own maritime jurisdiction, rights, and interests, rather than seeking gains at the expense of others.

This statement follows the European Union's formal position, which has characterized the Turkey-Libya deal as invalid and illegitimate, citing its violation of the sovereign rights of third states. While Erdogan maintains that the agreement is sound, he concluded his remarks by advocating for a peaceful resolution of regional disputes through dialogue with all coastal states in the Eastern Mediterranean.