Egypt Challenges Turkey-Libya Maritime Agreement Through New Surveys

Egypt has launched official surveys in a maritime area that the Tripoli government had granted to Turkey under the controversial Turkey-Libya maritime memorandum of 2019. This move clearly signals Egypt’s intention to de facto challenge the agreement and strengthen its position in the Eastern Mediterranean.

The area, stretching from the Libyan coast towards the Greek island of Crete, has sparked strong reactions from Egypt, Greece, and Cyprus, all of which view the agreement as a violation of their sovereign rights and maritime zones. Egypt had already unilaterally defined its maritime borders with Libya through a Presidential Decree in 2022, rejecting the agreement as illegal.

Turkey, for its part, has repeatedly defended the Turkey-Libya memorandum, dismissing the criticisms as unfounded and emphasizing its legitimacy based on agreements signed with Tripoli’s former government. However, Egypt’s decision to carry out surveys in the disputed area risks escalating tensions and triggering further diplomatic confrontations in the region.

This development comes at a time when the Eastern Mediterranean is at the center of geopolitical realignments, with countries vying for control over energy resources and strategic maritime routes. By strengthening ties with Greece and Cyprus, Egypt appears determined to safeguard its interests and prevent further expansion of Turkish influence in the area.

The international community is closely monitoring these developments, as any escalation of tensions in the Eastern Mediterranean could have broader implications for regional stability and maritime security.

Source: pagenews.gr