Athens, Greece. A gas exploration deal between Greece and a Chevron-led consortium has drawn criticism from Turkey, which called the agreement unlawful and said it would support Libya in taking action against Greece’s activities.
Turkey cites 2019 memorandum with Libya
Turkey’s Defence Ministry said at its weekly press briefing on Thursday that the consortium’s exclusive lease agreements to explore for natural gas off southern Greece violated a 2019 maritime memorandum of understanding between Ankara and Tripoli, as well as Libya’s maritime jurisdiction declared to the United Nations on 27 May 2025.
“We oppose this unlawful activity, which is being attempted in violation of the 2019 Memorandum of Understanding on Maritime Jurisdiction between Libya and our country,” the ministry said, adding that it would continue to support Libyan authorities in acting against what it described as Greece’s unlawful conduct.
Turkey said the activity did not directly affect its own continental shelf in the region, but argued it encroached on Libya’s declared maritime zone.
Lease agreements expand Greek exploration area
The Chevron-led consortium signed the lease agreements on Monday, doubling the amount of Greek maritime acreage available for exploration.
The deal is the second in recent months involving a U.S. energy major in Greek waters, as the European Union seeks to reduce its dependence on Russian energy supplies and Washington moves to fill the gap.
Longstanding maritime dispute between Greece and Turkey
The 2019 Turkey-Libya maritime agreement, which set out boundaries in the Mediterranean, was rejected by Athens on the grounds that it disregarded the presence of Crete between the two countries’ coastlines.
Greece and Turkey, neighbours and NATO allies, have been at odds for decades over maritime boundaries and rights in the Aegean Sea, a region widely believed to hold significant energy resources with implications for airspace and military activity. A 2023 declaration on friendly relations produced a brief thaw in rhetoric, though core disputes have remained unresolved despite both sides expressing a willingness to address them.
What impact could the latest energy exploration deal have on efforts to ease tensions between Greece and Turkey?
