Turkey sounds alarm over Greece-Chevron deal south of Crete

Turkey: “International law and the Turkey-Libya maritime pact are being violated”

Turkey has strongly reacted to the agreement between the Greek government and the energy giant Chevron for hydrocarbon exploration south of Crete, calling the activities “illegal” and “violating international law.” 

According to a statement from the Turkish Ministry of National Defense, Ankara opposes the unilateral activities of Greece and international companies in the area, arguing that they violate the 2019 Turkey-Libya Memorandum of Understanding on Maritime Jurisdiction Zones, as well as the maritime boundaries submitted by Libya to the UN in May 2025.

Key points from Turkey’s statement:

• The Turkish MoND stressed that the activities south of Crete “contravene international law” and principles of good neighborliness.
• Even though the areas do not directly touch Turkey’s continental shelf, Ankara considers them part of the maritime zones under the Turkey-Libya pact, labeling the actions “illegal.”
• Turkey continues to support Libyan authorities in opposing Greece’s “unilateral and illegal” moves.
• In a weekly briefing, a senior Turkish official emphasized that the country is closely monitoring developments and taking all necessary measures in line with its “national interests.”

Background & Legal Context

The memorandum cited by Turkey has faced strong criticism from Athens, Nicosia, and the EU, which consider it contrary to the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) because it ignores Greek islands such as Crete.

Libya has also submitted a map to the UN claiming maritime rights up to south of Crete, which Turkey uses to reinforce its position.

Geopolitical Dimension

The tension arises at a time when the EU seeks energy diversification away from Russian sources, and the US emphasizes the role of companies like Chevron in the Eastern Mediterranean, adding strategic depth to regional energy competition.

Turkey’s claims highlight long-standing disputes over maritime borders and hydrocarbon rights between Athens and Ankara, as well as broader regional competition in the Mediterranean, where gas and oil exploration remains a flashpoint.

The renewed dispute over maritime zones and exploration south of Crete underscores that disagreements under international maritime law remain a core geopolitical tension in the Eastern Mediterranean. Turkey views the Greece-Chevron deal as a threat to its interests, while Athens seeks economic and energy gains from hydrocarbon development.

Source: pagenews.gr