Greece seeks Egyptian intervention over Libya-Turkey maritime agreement
BY Libyan Express Jun 05, 2025 - 23:58 Updated: Jun 05, 2025 - 23:59 Greek Foreign Secretary George Katrougalos
Greece is reportedly preparing to ask Egypt to help prevent eastern Libya from ratifying a maritime agreement with Turkey, according to Middle East Eye .
Greek Foreign Secretary George Katrougalos is expected to discuss the matter with Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdel Ati during meetings scheduled for next Wednesday, the British-based news website reported.
The potential ratification by Libya's eastern government, led by Prime Minister Osama Hamad and backed by military commander Khalifa Haftar, could significantly alter the balance of power in the Eastern Mediterranean. The region has become increasingly important as nations seek to develop natural gas reserves.
Should eastern Libya endorse Turkey's maritime claims, it would mark a substantial diplomatic victory for Ankara's efforts to expand its influence in the Mediterranean. Such a move would also align all Libyan factions with Turkey's position on territorial waters.
The eastern Libyan government's potential support for the Turkey agreement would conflict with the existing 2020 maritime accord between Egypt and Greece. Whilst Egypt did not fully recognise all Greek claims to exclusive economic zones around Greek islands in that agreement, significant portions of it contradict the Turkey-Tripoli deal.
According to Middle East Eye, Haftar and his associates are currently working to strengthen relationships with Turkish officials. The report suggests they may delay any formal decision on the maritime agreement rather than immediately approving or rejecting it.
The situation highlights ongoing tensions over territorial claims and energy resources in the Eastern Mediterranean, where multiple nations have competing interests in establishing maritime boundaries and extraction rights. The views expressed in Op-Ed pieces are those of the author and do not purport to reflect the opinions or views of Libyan Express.
How to submit an Op-Ed: Libyan Express accepts opinion articles on a wide range of topics. Submissions may be sent to oped@libyanexpress.com. Please include 'Op-Ed' in the subject line.
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