Cyprus and Lebanon have finalized their 19-year agreement on Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) delimitation, marking a new geopolitical reality in the Eastern Mediterranean. The agreement goes beyond a bilateral framework because:
- Cyprus strengthens its role as a stable and recognized actor in maritime and energy security.
- Lebanon gains access to long-frozen partnerships and regional energy collaborations.
- The ratification comes amid heightened Turkish claims, reaffirming the Median Line principle under International Law of the Sea.
The decision of President Joseph Aoun (2025) to revive negotiations signals Lebanon’s ambition to reassert itself as a serious player in a region where Israel, Cyprus, and Greece are already expanding cooperation networks.
The deal delivers a multi-layered blow to Turkish strategy and opens new prospects for the Cyprus dispute and regional energy partnerships.
Key Benefits for Cyprus and Regional Stability:
- Limits Turkish influence, the only regional power refusing to recognize the Republic of Cyprus, rejecting the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea, and promoting unilateral claims.
- International recognition of Cyprus’ maritime boundaries, with Lebanon accepting the Median Line.
- Weakens Turkish arguments of a “maritime vacuum”, creating a coherent framework that enhances regional stability.
- Supports the Cyprus dispute, reinforcing Cyprus’ image as a sovereign, essential state while reducing the influence of the “two-state” narrative.
- Opens new energy cooperation opportunities, including the Cyprus–Lebanon electricity interconnection, supported by the World Bank, increasing the geo-strategic depth of the Eastern Mediterranean.
Historical Context:
- The initial 2007 agreement was not ratified due to Lebanon’s internal political disputes.
- The Cyprus–Israel deal (2010) complicated matters as Beirut claimed loss of maritime territory.
- The Lebanon–Israel settlement (2022) mediated by the U.S. paved the way for restarting negotiations.
- Following Aoun’s election in 2025, talks accelerated, and by October 2025, the revised text was approved.
Regional and European Implications:
- Cyprus emerges as a pillar of stability between the EU and the Middle East, leveraging its geographic location and commitment to international law.
- Lebanon–Cyprus cooperation acts as insurance against destabilizing regional actors.
- Strengthens the European dimension of the Cyprus dispute, giving Nicosia more leverage in negotiations with the UN and EU partners.
Source: pagenews.gr