Libya’s approval of its maritime agreement with Türkiye drew objections from Greece and the European Union, while Ankara welcomed the reversal by the country’s eastern-based parliament after years of opposition.
The House of Representatives voted unanimously in Benghazi on Oct. 20 to approve the 2019 accord.
Lawmakers also repealed earlier decisions rejecting agreements with Türkiye and severing political ties with Ankara.
The Turkish Foreign Ministry said the maritime agreement, which it noted had been in force since 2019, safeguarded both countries’ rights and interests under international law and the principle of equity.
“Türkiye will continue to work with all partners to foster trust, stability and peace in the Mediterranean basin,” the ministry said.
European Council President António Costa and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen expressed regret over the vote in a joint statement, reaffirming the bloc’s support for Greece and Greek Cyprus.
They said the agreement infringed the sovereign rights of third states, did not comply with the law of the sea and was “null and void.”
Greece’s Foreign Ministry said parliamentary approval did not change its position that the agreement was illegal.
Athens said it had informed its partners and would take steps to protect its sovereign rights. The Greek Cypriot administration also condemned the decision.
The vote followed closer contacts between Ankara and eastern Libyan officials, alongside Türkiye’s continued ties with the internationally recognized government in Tripoli.
Earlier this month, the parliament elected Al Saleheen Abdulnabi as speaker, replacing Aguila Saleh, a longstanding opponent of the agreement. The leadership vote took place on Oct. 6.
Turkish intelligence chief İbrahim Kalın was in Tripoli on the day of the maritime pact vote, meeting Prime Minister Abdul Hamid Dbeibah.
Their talks covered efforts to reconcile Libya’s rival administrations and military forces, according to Turkish security sources.
Saddam Haftar, the son and deputy of eastern military commander Khalifa Haftar, welcomed parliamentary approval, saying the agreement could help protect Libya’s rights and economic interests in the Mediterranean.
Türkiye signed the maritime memorandum with Libya’s then Government of National Accord in November 2019, during Haftar’s offensive against Tripoli.
Turkish military support helped repel that offensive in 2020, while the eastern parliament rejected the agreement and opposed Ankara’s involvement.
