Egypt Reaffirms Rejection of 2019 Libya-Turkey Maritime Pact
Egypt has officially reaffirmed its categorical rejection of the 2019 memorandum of understanding on maritime jurisdiction signed between the Turkish government and the then-Government of National Accord (GNA) in Libya. In a recent statement, Cairo described the agreement as “null and void,” asserting that it possesses no legal standing or binding effect.
The maritime accord, which was aimed at establishing exclusive economic zones in the Mediterranean Sea, has been a source of persistent diplomatic tension since it was first introduced. Egypt, alongside several other regional stakeholders, has consistently challenged the legitimacy of the agreement, arguing that it ignores the sovereign rights of other Mediterranean nations and violates established international maritime law.
Cairo’s stance centers on the assertion that the government in Tripoli at the time of the signing lacked the necessary authority to enter into a binding international treaty that affects the maritime borders and economic interests of neighboring states. Egyptian officials have historically maintained that such agreements, which significantly alter the geopolitical landscape of the Eastern Mediterranean, require broader regional consensus and must adhere strictly to the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).
The 2019 memorandum aimed to delineate maritime boundaries between Turkey and Libya, effectively creating a corridor across the Mediterranean. This move drew immediate condemnation from Egypt, Greece, and Cyprus, all of whom argued that the zone cut through areas they claim as their own exclusive economic zones. Since the agreement’s inception, Egypt has sought to counter its influence by strengthening its own maritime security cooperation and energy partnerships within the Eastern Mediterranean Gas Forum (EMGF), a regional organization that excludes Turkey.
The persistence of this dispute underscores the ongoing complexities surrounding energy exploration and territorial sovereignty in the Mediterranean basin. For Egypt, the rejection of the memorandum is not merely a diplomatic gesture but a cornerstone of its Mediterranean policy, aimed at protecting its national security interests and maritime resources. Cairo remains firm in its position that the 2019 text is an illegitimate instrument that disregards the legal frameworks governing maritime demarcations.
The reaffirmation of this position comes amidst a broader context of shifting alliances in North Africa and the Eastern Mediterranean. While diplomatic channels between regional powers have seen periods of cooling and warming, the maritime boundary issue remains a significant point of contention. Cairo’s latest statement serves as a reminder that despite evolving regional relations, fundamental disagreements over maritime rights and the interpretation of international law continue to define the political and security interactions between the states involved. The Egyptian government continues to emphasize that any future maritime arrangements must be transparent, inclusive of all legitimate stakeholders, and compliant with established international legal norms to ensure regional stability.
