US Slams Disputed Turkey-Libya Maritime Pact as Provocative Escalation
Washington warns of rising Mediterranean tensions after eastern Libya and Turkey rat a controversial maritime deal, redrawing gas-rich sea boundaries.
POLICY WIRE — Washington, USAThe United States has issued a sharp critique of a recently ratified maritime agreement between Turkey and eastern Libya, labeling the move as unhelpful and provocative. A State Department spokesperson warned that the accord threatens to destabilize the already volatile eastern Mediterranean.
The agreement has sparked significant international outcry because it seeks to redefine maritime boundaries in an area believed to contain vast natural gas reserves. Washington officials explicitly stated that the country’s longstanding stance on the disputed memorandum remains unchanged despite the new developments.
The maritime deal was approved by the parliament in eastern Libya during mid-October. This territory is under the control of military leader Khalifa Haftar, who has established a strategic alliance with Turkey—effectively bypassing the internationally recognized government located in Tripoli, to the northwest of the country.
Reporting by Policy-Wire (PW)
