Overview
- The Benghazi-based House of Representatives approved the contested 2019 Turkey–Libya memorandum last week, reversing earlier eastern rejections and formalising eastern Libya’s acceptance of the maritime corridor.
- Greece, Cyprus, Egypt, Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates and the European Union issued a coordinated warning that the ratification threatens Mediterranean stability and may violate international maritime law.
- Turkey and Libya’s UN envoy defended the vote, with President Recep Tayyip Erdogan calling objections illegitimate and Taher El Sonni urging opponents to seek legal remedies such as filings at the International Court of Justice.
- Analysts report the move followed internal HoR changes — including the removal of long-time speaker Aguila Saleh — and say the sequence appears aimed at clearing a path for Saddam Haftar’s possible presidential bid, with external patrons playing a role.
- The memorandum draws a maritime corridor that overlaps waters claimed by Greece, Cyprus and Egypt, endangering planned energy projects like the EastMed pipeline and increasing the risk of legal challenges, naval friction and damage to offshore infrastructure.