Turkey achieved a significant diplomatic milestone when Libya’s eastern parliament, the House of Representatives, unanimously ratified a maritime boundary agreement on October 20. The Tripoli-based government had already signed the deal in 2019, but the eastern parliament had rejected it in 2020. The boundary demarcation runs between Crete and Cyprus, effectively denying Greek islands in the region claims to continental shelf or exclusive economic zones beyond their territorial waters.
The ratification came after Saddam Haftar’s political faction removed longtime parliament speaker Aguila Saleh, who had blocked the measure for years. Turkish intelligence officials were present during the vote, and analysts suggest the ratification was part of negotiations between Saddam Haftar and Ankara regarding Libya’s political unification. Under a U.S.-backed plan, Saddam could lead a unified Libya’s Presidential Council while maintaining the current prime minister in Tripoli. Observers indicate Saddam secured the maritime deal ratification to gain Turkish backing for his political ambitions.
The agreement has drawn regional opposition. Greece, Cyprus, Egypt, the UAE, Bahrain and the EU issued a joint statement expressing concerns about regional security and stability. Egypt, which previously supported Saddam Haftar’s rival Khalifa Haftar, views the deal as infringing on its maritime rights. Cairo is pursuing legal remedies and coordinating with Greece on extending their 2020 maritime boundary. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres stated that maritime arrangements incompatible with the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea should not be recognized, though Turkey is not a party to that convention.
Turkey is pursuing similar maritime agreements with Syria and positioning itself as a gatekeeper in the Eastern Mediterranean. However, international oil companies face significant obstacles to exploration in these contested waters. Industry analysts note that companies are unlikely to invest in areas disputed by multiple nations, particularly when major powers like Greece, Egypt and the EU contest the boundaries. While Turkey’s state oil company holds stakes in deepwater blocks near Benghazi, the broader strategic value of the agreement lies in Ankara’s ability to contest future projects rather than immediate oil development prospects.
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