Libyan Vote Confirms Turkish Maritime Link
A unanimous parliamentary decision in Libya validates a new economic corridor with Turkey, challenging Greek territorial claims in the eastern Mediterranean.
By Carmen Wojcik ·
The passage of a new maritime treaty by the Libyan legislature on Tuesday establishes a formal economic channel connecting the two nations. This development directly affects the strategic balance in the eastern Mediterranean and is set to intensify existing friction with Greece. The vote, which passed without opposition in the chamber, marks a significant shift in Libyan foreign policy and signals a closer alignment between Tripoli and Ankara.
The agreement defines a corridor stretching from Turkey's southern shoreline to Libya's northern coast. Recent geological surveys have identified substantial oil and gas reserves in these waters, with estimates suggesting potential natural gas holdings valued at several hundred billion US dollars. Both governments intend to secure their rights to these resources and proceed with joint exploitation efforts. The move reverses the stance of the eastern parliamentary bloc, which had previously rejected the framework when it was initially drafted in 2019 by the western government.
Athens has voiced strong objections to the new boundary lines, which bypass Greek islands such as Crete, Rhodes, and Karpathos. The Greek Foreign Ministry stated on social media that it firmly rejects the accord, citing support from the European Union. Brussels described the memorandum as null and void, arguing that it violates the sovereign rights of third states and conflicts with established international maritime law. Kaja Kallas, the EU's top diplomat for foreign affairs, echoed this sentiment, noting that the Libyan decision infringes upon the rights of neighboring states.
The core of the legal dispute centers on the interpretation of island sovereignty. Greece relies on Article 121 of the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea, which grants inhabited islands capable of supporting independent economic lives the same exclusive economic zone rights as mainland territories. Athens points to a 2022 ruling by the International Court of Justice involving Colombia and Nicaragua to support its claim for a fair demarcation based on geography. In contrast, Turkey argues that the specific geography of the Mediterranean requires special consideration to prevent it from being cut off from open waters. Ankara has never signed the convention and therefore does not accept arbitration by a UN tribunal.
The political landscape in Libya has evolved significantly since the civil war of 2019, when Turkey provided military support to the western government. Since then, a diplomatic initiative has improved relations with the eastern leadership. Turkish companies have secured reconstruction contracts worth billions, and the state oil firm TPAO is collaborating with Libyan partners on seismic surveys. Ankara also continues to supply equipment and training to eastern forces, a move that counters Egyptian and Russian influence in the region.
The new corridor also poses a threat to the planned EastMed pipeline, which aims to transport gas from Israel and Cyprus through Greece to support EU energy security. The proposed route intersects with the new Turkish-Libyan zone. Turkey maintains that any such infrastructure on its claimed continental shelf requires its consent. In the long term, this agreement may divide the region into two distinct blocs: a Turkey-Libya axis and a grouping of Greece, Cyprus, Egypt, and Israel supported by the European Union.
