Eastern Libya Approves 2019 Maritime Pact With Turkey

Libya’s eastern House of Representatives unanimously approved a 2019 maritime memorandum with Turkey on October 20, reversing its previous opposition and renewing objections from countries that dispute the agreement’s legal standing. The Benghazi-based parliament also repealed two resolutions adopted in 2020: one rejecting agreements with Ankara and another calling for political relations with Turkey to be severed. The memorandum was signed in 2019 by Turkey and Libya’s then Tripoli-based Government of National Accord and sets out maritime jurisdiction areas in the Mediterranean. Egypt’s Foreign Ministry rejected the ratification, saying it infringes on Egypt’s rights in its exclusive economic zone and continental shelf and violates the law of the sea. The ministry said the vote has no legal effect for Egypt and that Cairo reserves its right to protect its maritime interests. Those statements express Egypt’s position; the vote does not itself settle the competing legal claims. Greece’s Foreign Ministry also called the memorandum illegal and said it disregards the maritime rights of Greek islands. Athens argues that Turkey and Libya do not have opposite or adjacent coasts that...