Turkey on Thursday welcomed the decision by authorities in eastern Libya to review the 2019 maritime delimitation agreement, originally signed between Tripoli and Ankara.
This reassessment of the maritime deal marks a potential turning point in dialogue with eastern Libyan authorities, who have consistently opposed Turkish influence in western Libya. The 2019 agreement, seen as a diplomatic overture between Turkey and the administration of Khalifa Haftar, defines exclusive economic zones (EEZs) in the eastern Mediterranean. It also aims to “cement a maritime alliance based on historical ties with Libya.”
A subsequent 2022 memorandum of understanding further expanded the agreement, granting Turkey permission to conduct exploration activities both on Libyan territory and offshore. This expanded scope had previously been rejected by Greece and declared invalid by the Libyan parliament, which is aligned with the eastern administration.
According to Turkish media, the Libyan House of Representatives has now decided to establish a technical committee to reassess the controversial deal. This move signals a significant shift in approach after years of outright rejection from the eastern authorities.
SL/te/sf/lb/abj/APA