Eastern Libya Parliament Approves Turkey Maritime Deal, Angering Greece

Libya-Turkey maritime deal: Libya’s eastern-based parliament voted unanimously on Tuesday, Oct. 20, 2026, to approve a 2019 agreement with Turkey that draws maritime boundaries in the eastern Mediterranean, reversing its rejection of the deal six years ago. Greece immediately condemned the vote, calling the agreement “illegal, null and void.”

The House of Representatives, based in Tobruk and aligned with military commander Khalifa Haftar, also repealed its 2020 decisions rejecting the memorandum and severing political ties with Ankara, according to the state Libyan News Agency (LANA) and Al Jazeera. Specialised committees gave lawmakers a detailed explanation of the deal’s provisions before the vote, lawmaker Aisha al-Tabalqi told Reuters.

What the 2019 maritime memorandum does

Turkey signed the memorandum in 2019 with Libya’s then UN-recognised Government of National Accord in Tripoli. It delimits sea boundaries between the two countries, part of a long dispute over sea borders and energy exploration rights in the eastern Mediterranean, Reuters reported. Haftar’s rival eastern administration had withheld approval for years.

Greece, Egypt and Cyprus have long opposed the deal, saying it infringes on their own maritime claims. Athens and Cairo signed an overlapping agreement in 2020 designating an exclusive economic zone, which Turkey opposes. Last year Greece approved hydrocarbon exploration by a consortium led by Chevron south of Crete, which Ankara called “unlawful,” according to Reuters.

Greece and Turkey respond

Greece’s foreign ministry said the memorandum “remains illegal, null and void, contravenes international law of the sea, and infringes upon the sovereign rights of states in the region.” It called on the Libyan side “to refrain from any action that contravenes International Law and undermines stability in the Eastern Mediterranean.” Athens said it had informed partners and allies and would take all appropriate measures to safeguard its sovereign rights, Al Jazeera reported.

Turkey’s foreign ministry welcomed the decision, saying the agreement respected the mutual rights and interests of both countries under international law and the principles of equity. “Turkey will continue its determination to work together with all partners to ensure security, stability and peace in the Mediterranean basin,” it said.

Egypt’s foreign minister, Badr Abdelatty, discussed the deal with his Greek counterpart, according to SEE News. Cairo had not announced a separate formal response in the reports reviewed.

Haftar’s shift toward Ankara

The vote reverses years of hostility. In December 2019, Haftar’s forces had nearly encircled Tripoli before Turkey sent military advisers and drones to support the Tripoli government, altering the course of Libya’s civil war, Al Jazeera reported. Turkish drones became one of the defining weapons of that phase of the war, a trend described in our drone warfare guide.

Since last year, Ankara has built military-to-military contacts with Haftar’s self-styled Libyan National Army, including a July deal to develop military facilities and advanced surveillance systems, according to Al Jazeera. “Some countries may be upset by this agreement, but what matters to us is our national interest,” eastern lawmaker Tarek al-Jeroushi said before the vote.

What it means for the eastern Mediterranean

Libya has been divided for years between rival authorities in the east and west. With both now backing the memorandum, Turkey’s claim in the area gains support from both sides of Libya’s divide, while Greece, Egypt and Cyprus continue to reject it. For more on Europe’s southern flank, see our geopolitics coverage.

Additional details

The House of Representatives operates as an alternative to the legislature in Tripoli. LANA reported that the vote repealed both the 2020 rejection and the decision to cut ties with Turkey.

Featured image: Tripoli and the Mediterranean coast seen from the ISS. Photo: NASA Johnson Space Center, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons.

Sources

• Al Jazeera: Eastern Libya parliament approves 2019 maritime deal with Turkiye
• Reuters (via StreetInsider): Eastern Libya parliament approves maritime deal with Turkey, drawing Greek rejection
• Libyan News Agency: House of Representatives approves maritime memorandum with Turkey
• The Washington Post: Libya approves contentious Turkey deal over Mediterranean waters
• SEE News: Egypt’s FM discusses Turkey-Libya maritime deal with Greek counterpart