Introduction ( Tensions between Greece and Türkiye)
The Eastern Mediterranean has become a key area of global interest, where countries compete over energy resources and long-standing rivalries are resurfacing. At the heart of this is the Greece-Egypt maritime deal, which has changed the balance in the region. As tensions grow between Greece and Türkiye, and Libya’s oil interests get caught up in the dispute, the impact of this agreement goes far beyond just Greece and Egypt.
The Greece-Egypt Maritime Agreement: A Strategic Counter to Türkiye
Signed in August 2020, the Greece-Egypt Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) agreement was a direct response to the controversial Turkey-Libya Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) of 2019. The Greece-Egypt deal aimed to establish a legal framework for oil and gas exploration rights in the Eastern Mediterranean, reinforcing the sovereignty of both nations over their maritime zones.
While the agreement was hailed as a diplomatic victory for Athens and Cairo, it was immediately denounced by Ankara as “null and void,” with Türkiye asserting that no legitimate maritime boundary exists between Greece and Egypt. This rejection laid the groundwork for a broader regional standoff, with Libya, Syria, and other actors drawn into the fray.
Türkiye’s Strategic Realignment: Courting Cairo and Benghazi
In a bold diplomatic maneuver, Türkiye has revived proposals for a bilateral maritime delimitation agreement with Egypt, based on its “Blue Homeland” doctrine. This vision seeks to divide the Eastern Mediterranean continental shelf between the Turkish and Egyptian mainland coasts—excluding Greek islands and Cyprus.
Though Egypt has not formally accepted this offer, internal hesitations and bureaucratic delays in fully delimiting the EEZ east of the 25th meridian suggest Cairo may be keeping its options open. Türkiye’s proposal includes integrating Egypt into its regional energy vision, positioning Cairo as a transit hub for energy exports to Europe, while blocking projects like EastMed.
Libya’s Role: A Fragmented Power Center with Strategic Leverage
Libya’s vast oil reserves and fractured political landscape make it a pivotal player in the Eastern Mediterranean. The Turkey-Libya MoU, signed in 2019 and reaffirmed in 2022, remains a cornerstone of Ankara’s regional strategy. However, recent developments have added new layers of complexity.
In August 2025, Turkish intelligence chief İbrahim Kalın met with Khalifa Haftar, the military leader of Eastern Libya, in Benghazi to discuss maritime cooperation and regional security. According to Türkiye Today , Haftar’s faction is expected to approve the Maritime Jurisdiction Agreement, with Türkiye offering military support in return. This meeting coincided with joint naval exercises between the Turkish corvette TCG Kinaliada and the Libyan National Army (LNA), signaling deepening military ties.
The visit underscores Türkiye’s dual-track strategy—engaging both Tripoli and Benghazi—to secure broader Libyan endorsement of its maritime claims. If Haftar ratifies the Turkey-Libya MoU, it could undermine Greece’s position and further fragment Libya’s already fragile political landscape.
Libya also submitted a formal claim to the UN rejecting the Greece-Egypt EEZ agreement and asserting its own maritime rights based on the Turkey-Libya accord. Tripoli accused Greece of illegal hydrocarbon exploration south of Crete and condemned Athens’ Maritime Spatial Plan as a violation of Libyan sovereignty.
Escalating Tensions Between Greece and Türkiye
Despite occasional diplomatic overtures, the Greek-Turkish rivalry remains deeply entrenched. Disputes over maritime boundaries, airspace, and Cyprus continue to fuel mistrust. Türkiye’s assertive posture, including military exercises and contingency planning, has alarmed Athens and prompted increased cooperation with Western allies.
According to Maritime Hub (https://maritime-hub.com), Greece expelled the Libyan ambassador in response to the Turkey-Libya maritime deal, citing the geographical absurdity of ignoring Crete’s location between the two nations. Türkiye, in turn, accused Greece of violating diplomatic norms and continues to contest Greek and Cypriot drilling activities.
Energy Politics: The Heart of the Dispute
The Eastern Mediterranean’s natural gas reserves—notably in Egypt’s Zohr field, Israel’s Leviathan, and Cyprus’s Aphrodite—have transformed the region into a strategic energy corridor. However, overlapping EEZ claims and unresolved conflicts have stymied progress.
Türkiye’s “Blue Homeland” doctrine seeks to assert control over maritime areas surrounding its coasts, leading to overlapping claims with Greece, particularly around the island of Kastellorizo. Greece and Cyprus have issued hydrocarbon drilling licenses, which Türkiye contests, claiming these activities infringe upon its continental shelf or the rights of Turkish Cypriots.
The European Union has become increasingly involved, with leaders considering sanctions against Turkish individuals for unauthorized drilling off Cyprus. While broader economic measures remain off the table, the proposed sanctions signal a hardening stance.
What the Seville Map Shows
The map outlines maritime boundaries based on the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), which grants islands the right to generate EEZs. According to the Seville Map:
- Greek islands such as Kastellorizo and Crete are given full EEZ rights.
- It connects the Greek and Cypriot EEZs, effectively limiting Türkiye’s maritime space to the Gulf of Antalya
Strategic Consequences of the Greece-Egypt Deal
1. Diplomatic Isolation of Türkiye
The Greece-Egypt agreement, backed by the EU and several regional actors, has isolated Türkiye diplomatically. Ankara’s rejection of UNCLOS and its unilateral claims have drawn criticism and limited its ability to form multilateral energy partnerships.
2. Fragmentation of Libya
Libya’s internal divisions have been exacerbated by competing maritime claims. The alignment of Eastern Libya with Türkiye threatens to undermine national unity and complicate efforts to stabilize the country.
3. Risk of Regional Escalation
The convergence of maritime disputes, military posturing, and energy competition raises the specter of armed conflict. A miscalculation in the Aegean or Eastern Mediterranean could trigger a broader crisis involving NATO allies and regional powers.
4. Energy Uncertainty
The deal has introduced legal and geopolitical uncertainty into energy markets. Investors are wary of drilling in contested zones, and infrastructure projects face delays due to diplomatic friction.
5. EU’s Strategic Dilemma
The EU must navigate a complex web of alliances. While supporting Greece and Cyprus, it also seeks to engage Türkiye on migration, trade, and security. The Greece-Egypt deal complicates this balancing act.
Türkiye’s Naval Diplomacy: A Show of Force
The Turkish naval corvette TCG Kinaliada played a central role in Türkiye’s recent outreach to Libya. During its port visit to Benghazi, the vessel conducted PASSEX and PHOTEX exercises with LNA patrol boats and hosted high-level military meetings. The presence of Turkish defense officials and diplomats, including Ambassador Guven Begec, underscores Ankara’s commitment to expanding its influence in Libya.
These exercises are not merely symbolic—they represent Türkiye’s intent to project power and secure strategic maritime corridors. The coordination with Haftar’s forces suggests a broader plan to legitimize the Turkey-Libya MoU and challenge Greece’s claims.
Egypt’s Calculated Ambiguity
Egypt’s position remains ambiguous. While publicly committed to the Greece-Egypt EEZ agreement, Cairo has yet to finalize the delimitation east of the 25th meridian. This delay may reflect a strategic hedging, allowing Egypt to leverage competing offers from Greece and Türkiye.
Türkiye’s proposal offers Egypt a larger maritime zone and integration into its energy export network. However, accepting such a deal would require Egypt to renounce its agreement with Greece, risking a rupture in its strategic relationship with Athens.
Conclusion
The Greece-Egypt maritime deal is more than a bilateral agreement—it is a strategic pivot that reshapes the Eastern Mediterranean’s geopolitical landscape. As Türkiye maneuvers to counterbalance this alliance and Libya asserts its maritime claims, the region teeters on the edge of a new era of competition and conflict.
Energy ambitions, national sovereignty, and historical grievances collide in this volatile arena. The coming months will test the resilience of diplomatic channels and the capacity of regional actors to navigate the fault lines without plunging into crisis.
Author: A. Dimitriou
The Maritime-Hub Editorial Team
Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this article are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of Maritime-Hub. Readers are advised to research this information before making decisions based on it.
