Greek Prime Minister denounces the Turkey-Libya maritime memorandum at the UN

On October 29, 2026, Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis addressed the UN Security Council during a high-level debate on maritime security and emerging technologies. He formally condemned the 2019 memorandum of understanding between Turkey and Libya regarding maritime zones, describing it as an arbitrary and illegal document that violates the fundamental principles of the International Law of the Sea.

During his speech, Mitsotakis argued that the memorandum attempts to redraw geography and disregard the sovereign rights of islands to possess their own continental shelf and Exclusive Economic Zone. He emphasized that the agreement creates an artificial diagonal maritime boundary between states that do not share adjacent or opposite coasts, characterizing this as a blatant violation of international law. The Prime Minister underscored that the rule of law must prevail over the law of force, asserting that maritime boundaries must be established through legitimate agreements between natural neighbors.

This statement reflects Greece’s long-standing diplomatic position regarding the contested maritime zones in the Eastern Mediterranean. Mitsotakis reiterated that international maritime laws cannot be selectively applied or redefined to suit the geopolitical ambitions of individual nations, calling for strict adherence to existing legal frameworks to maintain global stability.