Eastern Libya’s parliament is preparing to approve Turkey’s 2019 offshore gas exploration deal, granting Ankara rights in contested Mediterranean waters. The move signals closer Libya-Turkey ties but risks escalating tensions with Greece, Cyprus, and the EU.
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| (Photo unrelated to the reported event.) |
Libya’s eastern-based parliament is preparing to endorse a 2019 maritime agreement with Turkey, a move that would allow Ankara to expand oil and gas exploration in contested areas of the Mediterranean. The deal, initially signed by the Tripoli government, has until now lacked approval from the rival authorities in Benghazi. According to Bloomberg and regional outlets, ratification could be finalized soon.
The agreement grants Turkey’s state energy company TPAO rights to conduct seismic surveys and potential drilling in zones Libya claims as its exclusive economic waters. These areas overlap with maritime regions claimed by Greece and Cyprus, raising the likelihood of renewed disputes in the Eastern Mediterranean. Both countries, along with the European Union, have criticized the pact as inconsistent with international maritime law.
Signs of warming ties between Ankara and eastern Libya have emerged in recent weeks. The Turkish naval vessel TCG Kınalıada visited Tripoli earlier this month and is expected to call at Benghazi, highlighting Ankara’s outreach to both sides of Libya’s divided political landscape. Analysts suggest the eastern parliament’s shift reflects growing recognition of Turkey’s role as both investor and mediator.
For Turkey, ratification would secure a legal foundation to advance offshore exploration at a time when it is seeking to diversify energy supplies and strengthen its position in regional gas markets. For Libya, the move could attract new investment but risks drawing the country deeper into geopolitical tensions with its Mediterranean neighbors.
If the Benghazi parliament confirms approval, Turkey’s offshore ambitions in the region could accelerate, adding a new layer of complexity to Mediterranean energy politics.