Eastern Libya Parliament Approves Turkey Maritime Deal, Lifts 2020 Boycott
Eastern Libya parliament approves maritime deal with Turkey and lifts a 2020 boycott, bolstering Ankara's regional role and energy exploration rights.
POLICY WIRE — Benghazi, Libya — Libya’s eastern-based parliament officially backed a controversial maritime agreement with Turkey on Tuesday, while simultaneously overturning a 2020 decision to cut political ties with Ankara.
Two separate lawmakers confirmed the legislative development to reporters, noting that the newly endorsed pact is expected to yield substantial strategic advantages across national security, political, and economic sectors.
The unexpected move by the House of Representatives in Benghazi, which operates in alignment with military commander Field Marshal Khalifa Haftar, marks a significant diplomatic victory for Ankara and highlights a shifting regional posture.
Originally signed in Istanbul by then-Prime Minister Fayez al-Sarraj and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, the 2019 memorandum establishes maritime jurisdiction boundaries and was further expanded in 2022 to provide Turkey with broader oil and gas exploration rights in Libyan waters.
Legal challenges from both eastern and western factions in Libya had previously stalled the implementation of the pact, prompting counter-measures from regional nations including Greece and Egypt, who enacted their own separate maritime agreement in 2020.
Diplomatic tensions surrounding the pact have persisted for years, with Egypt reportedly pressing the United States as recently as July 2025 to intervene and halt the eastern legislature from moving forward with the accord.
While the recent ratification significantly strengthens the legal and political standing of the agreement, it continues to face strong objections from neighbouring Greece.
Reporting by Policy-Wire (PW)
