US criticises Turkey-Libya maritime deal after Libyan parliament ratifies it

Washington, United States. The US state department has called the maritime boundary pact between Turkey and Libya “unconstructive and provocative”, according to Greek newspaper Kathimerini. Its criticism followed the Libyan parliament’s ratification of the agreement last week.

Washington urges negotiated solutions

Kathimerini reported that the department said the ratification announcement had “increased tensions in the region” and that its assessment of the agreement remained unchanged.

The department urged every country, including US partners across the eastern Mediterranean, to settle maritime-zone disputes through good-faith negotiations and refrain from provocative conduct.

Agreement draws objections from Greece and Cyprus

Libyan lawmakers approved the pact unanimously on Tuesday last week, around seven years after Turkey and Libya’s internationally recognised government originally signed it in 2019.

The agreement establishes a boundary between the exclusive economic zones (EEZ) claimed by Turkey and Libya in the eastern Mediterranean. Under its terms, the boundary runs between two points to the southeast of Crete, the Greek island.

Greece and the Republic of Cyprus reject the arrangement. They argue that islands have full EEZ entitlements, meaning Turkey and Libya have no shared maritime boundary and the waters concerned belong to Cyprus and Crete. Turkey maintains that islands do not have full EEZ entitlements.

EU leaders reaffirm opposition

Last week, EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas told Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan that the agreement violated other states’ sovereign rights.

European Council President Antonio Costa and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen expressed deep regret over the Libyan parliament’s decision. They also reaffirmed solidarity with Greece and Cyprus and restated the EU’s established opposition to external interference in Libya.

Ankara welcomes parliamentary approval

Burhanettin Duran, director of Turkey’s presidential press office, welcomed Tuesday’s vote as significant progress towards defending both countries’ common rights and interests across the eastern Mediterranean. He said it supported the equitable establishment of maritime jurisdiction areas and stronger regional cooperation.

Duran said that, under President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s leadership, Turkey would keep defending its rights and interests within the Blue Homeland. He added that Ankara would further develop ties with Libya, which he described as a friendly and brotherly country, while advancing fair resource sharing, peace and stability across the eastern Mediterranean.