Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has dismissed European criticism of a maritime agreement between Türkiye and Libya, arguing that objections to the deal have no legal basis.
peaking after a cabinet meeting on Monday, Erdoğan defended the 2019 agreement, which defines maritime boundaries between Türkiye and Libya in the eastern Mediterranean, where competing territorial claims and potential energy resources have fuelled regional tensions.
“We are not seeking to score points against anyone in the eastern Mediterranean,” he said, stressing that Ankara's priority was to protect its maritime rights and interests.
He also urged countries seeking to exclude Türkiye from the region to “respect the will” of Ankara and Tripoli.
His comments came after Libya's eastern-based parliament ratified the agreement last week, marking a significant shift after years of opposition.
The deal was originally signed in 2019 by Türkiye and Libya's Tripoli-based government.
On Tuesday, Egypt, Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates joined Greece in condemning the agreement, arguing that it threatens regional security and breaches international maritime law.
The four countries argue that the deal ignores the maritime rights of other eastern Mediterranean states, amid longstanding disputes over territorial waters and exclusive economic zones.
The European Union has also rejected the agreement, arguing that it violates the law of the sea and infringes on the sovereign rights of other countries.
Greece maintains that the boundaries outlined in the deal fail to recognise the maritime rights of Greek islands, particularly Crete, which lies between Türkiye and Libya.
Libya has remained politically divided between rival administrations since the 2011 overthrow of longtime leader Muammar Gadhafi.
Türkiye has long supported Libya's Tripoli-based government, providing military assistance during an offensive launched by forces loyal to eastern commander Khalifa Haftar in 2019 and 2020.
Ankara has since broadened its diplomatic engagement with eastern Libya, making the recent parliamentary ratification a significant step in its relations with the North African country.
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