The authorities based in eastern Libya, one of the two administrations competing for control of the country, have given their approval on Tuesday to a memorandum of understanding on maritime delimitation, in a significant turn in favor of Ankara. In parallel, they have announced the annulment of a 2020 resolution in which they proclaimed the suspension of political relations with Turkey.
The original memorandum was sealed in 2019 between Turkey and the then Government of Tripoli, recognized by the international community, under the leadership of Prime Minister Fayez Serraj. The eastern administration flatly rejected that agreement, as it was negotiated without its participation, and for years has demanded that Ankara, a key regional player, recognize it as an essential interlocutor on the Libyan chessboard.
In recent months, however, Turkey has rebuilt bridges with the strongman of the east, Khalifa Haftar, and especially with his son Saddam, commander of the eastern forces and an "emerging star" within the power structure of this administration, as reflected in his recent meeting with Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan.
The ratification now disseminated on the official website of the institution is important for several reasons: Turkey and eastern Libya had been without a channel for dialogue for years due to Ankara's support for the authorities in Tripoli. On the international stage, the move revives an old territorial dispute that also involves Greece and Egypt, which have long rejected an agreement aligned with the Turkish interpretation of maritime law.
Athens considers itself particularly harmed, as its claim to maritime spaces clashes head-on with Ankara's stance, especially in the waters located south of Crete. The Hellenic Executive maintains that the memorandum overlooks the maritime rights generated by the Greek islands and has reiterated that the agreement lacks validity.
Immediate reaction from Greece
Hours after the decision became known, the Greek Ministry of Foreign Affairs expressed its outright rejection of what it has termed a "unilateral parliamentary decision without legal basis," based on a fundamental error: the very existence of the memorandum given that "Turkey and Libya do not have opposite or adjacent coasts that justify the delimitation of maritime zones."
"We call on Libya to refrain from any action contrary to International Law that undermines stability in the eastern Mediterranean," warns Greek Foreign Affairs, which "has already informed" its position "to its partners and allies and will take all necessary measures to safeguard its sovereign rights."
"This decision," it emphasizes, "does not alter the illegal, null, and void nature of the memorandum, which is contrary to International Maritime Law and violates the sovereign rights of the states in the region," referring to Egypt and Italy, which do have adjacent and opposing coasts with respect to Libya.
The Greek Foreign Minister, Giorgos Gerapetritis, has addressed the matter in a phone conversation with his Egyptian counterpart, Badr Abdelati, as the latter has confirmed on his social media, where he limited himself to stating that "he praised the strategic collaboration with Greece."
Tripoli and Ankara celebrate the rapprochement
Both the Tripoli Government and the Libyan Presidential Council have applauded the change in stance of the eastern authorities, as well as the resumption of ties between both Libyan parties.
For the Libyan Foreign Ministry, the decision represents "a positive step towards strengthening bilateral relations between Libya and Turkey, and consolidating joint cooperation in a way that serves the mutual interests of both countries."
The Turkish Executive, led by Recep Tayyip Erdogan, has also welcomed the step taken through a statement from its Foreign Ministry, which asserts that "this memorandum of understanding is based on the principles of International Law and equity, safeguards the mutual rights and interests of both countries, and contributes to further deepening cooperation between our nations."
In the same note, Turkish diplomacy emphasizes that Ankara, "in line with its commitment to respect International Law, will continue to work with all its partners to ensure security, stability, and peace in the Mediterranean basin," without directly mentioning the protests of its neighbors.