Libya’s eastern-based parliament unanimously ratified a controversial 2019 maritime deal with Turkey on Tuesday, reversing its 2020 rejection of the agreement and sparking immediate opposition from Greece, Cyprus, and the European Union.
The vote by the House of Representatives, seated in Benghazi, adopted the memorandum of understanding on maritime jurisdiction, which asserts that Libya and Turkey share a border in the Mediterranean Sea southeast of the Greek island of Crete. The decision came as Turkey’s intelligence chief, Ibrahim Kalin, met with Libya’s Prime Minister Abdulhamid Dibeybe in Tripoli, according to Libyan and regional sources .
Greece’s Foreign Ministry rejected the ratification, stating it “does not change the illegal, null and void nature of the memorandum,” which it said violates international law and disregards the rights of Greek islands. Cyprus’ Foreign Ministry similarly condemned the move, calling the agreement “illegal” and “null and void” for infringing on the sovereign rights of third states and contradicting the U.N. Convention on the Law of the Sea .
The European Commission and European Council issued a joint statement expressing “deep regret” over the ratification, reaffirming the EU’s 2019 position that the deal “infringes upon the sovereign rights of third states” and “does not comply with the law of the sea.” Presidents Ursula von der Leyen and Antonio Costa pledged solidarity with Greece and Cyprus, urging Libya to refrain from actions that undermine regional stability .
Turkey welcomed the decision, with presidential communications chief Burhanettin Duran calling it a “significant and welcome step” for bilateral relations and regional cooperation. He reiterated Ankara’s commitment to protecting its rights in the Eastern Mediterranean under the concept of the “Blue Homeland” .
The ratification follows a leadership change in Libya’s parliament, where Aguila Saleh was replaced by Abdel Nabi al-Obeidi, a figure linked to the Haftar family, which controls eastern Libya. Analysts noted the shift may have facilitated the deal’s approval, as Saleh had previously opposed it .
