What is the Turkiye-Libya maritime deal, and why are the EU, Egypt opposed?
Summary
Libya’s eastern parliament approved a 2019 maritime deal with Turkiye that defines sea boundaries in the Mediterranean. The deal is controversial because Egypt, the European Union, Greece, and Israel oppose it, saying it violates their rights and international law.Key Facts
- The 2019 deal was signed by Turkiye and Libya’s UN-recognized government in Tripoli to set maritime borders.
- Turkiye helped Libya’s Tripoli government fight the eastern-based military commander Khalifa Haftar’s forces in 2020.
- The eastern Libyan parliament, based in Tobruk, voted unanimously to approve this maritime deal in 2024, reversing its 2020 rejection.
- Egypt says the deal infringes on its exclusive economic zone and continental shelf rights in the Mediterranean Sea.
- The European Union and Greece claim the deal violates international rules, specifically the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).
- Israel condemned the deal, and Greece informed the United Nations Security Council about the issue.
- Turkish officials say the agreement is legal and dismissed the criticism.
- Egypt and Turkiye have recently improved security cooperation despite disagreements over the maritime borders.
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