Greek Parliament Speaker Calls on Libya to Scrap Türkiye–Libya Maritime Pact Amid Renewed Regional Tensions

Greek Speaker Urges Annulment of Controversial Pact

Greek Parliament Speaker Nikitas Kaklamanis has called on Libya’s eastern-based House of Representatives to fully annul the 2019 Turkey–Libya maritime delimitation agreement. During a high-level meeting with Aguila Saleh Issa, the head of Libya’s parliament, Kaklamanis emphasized that the deal “directly affects Greece” and said scrapping it would serve Libya’s long-term interests as well as regional stability.

The Greek message was clear: abandoning the pact would prevent a new cycle of territorial disputes and energy-related tensions in the Eastern Mediterranean.

Why the Agreement Is So Contentious

The maritime pact, originally signed in 2019 by the Tripoli-based Government of National Accord, sought to carve out exclusive economic zones between Türkiye and Libya. Greece and several other Mediterranean states rejected the agreement from day one, arguing that it ignored international maritime principles, especially the rights of islands.

A Libyan court declared the deal invalid in 2021, and Libya’s eastern parliament refused to ratify it for years. Yet in recent months, the same parliament began reviewing the agreement again—raising concerns in Athens that Libya might move toward ratification.

If Libya gives its formal approval, Türkiye would gain a vast and strategically critical maritime corridor, potentially enabling extensive offshore exploration. This would dramatically alter regional energy dynamics and fuel political frictions, particularly with Greece and Egypt.

Libya’s Internal Divide Shapes Its Foreign Policy

Libya remains split between rival authorities:

• The Tripoli government, which originally signed the agreement with Türkiye.
• The eastern-based House of Representatives, aligned with Khalifa Haftar, which has long rejected the pact.

This division means that Libya’s foreign policy is often contested domestically. For years, the eastern parliament maintained that the maritime accord was unconstitutional and unrepresentative of Libya’s national interests. Yet renewed discussions suggest pressure, shifting alliances, or new calculations on the Libyan side.

Kaklamanis appealed directly to these internal dynamics, arguing that maintaining opposition to the pact would strengthen Libya’s sovereignty and reinforce its credibility in the region.

What’s at Stake for the Mediterranean

The future of the Türkiye–Libya maritime agreement carries major consequences:

• If annulled:
• Regional tensions could ease, and Libya’s relationship with EU members — especially Greece — may improve. It could also open space for new negotiations on maritime boundaries with broader international involvement.
• If ratified:
• Türkiye would gain a powerful legal and strategic foothold in the Mediterranean. This could trigger new disputes over energy exploration, redraw maritime influence zones, and complicate cooperation between NATO allies.
• For Libya:
• The dilemma is deeply strategic. Annulment may strain ties with Türkiye, one of Libya’s key security partners, while ratification risks deeper entanglement in Mediterranean geopolitical rivalries.

What Comes Next

Athens is closely watching whether the Libyan parliament advances toward ratification or decides to uphold its earlier rejection. Meanwhile, Ankara maintains that the pact is fully legitimate, and eastern Libyan authorities recently signaled they consider outside criticism unwelcome.

With regional alliances shifting and energy competition intensifying, Libya’s next step could redefine the balance of power across the Eastern Mediterranean.