Libya: Against Greece and General Haftar’s Accusations Over Cretan Sea Zones

Tensions between Greece and Libya have risen again as the Tripoli-based Government of National Unity accused Greece of violating Libyan maritime rights. Shortly after, General Khalifa Haftar also spoke about the “violation of areas south of Crete.” This marks the first time both opposing Libyan factions appear aligned against Greece regarding maritime zones. According to Libya’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, parts of designated exploration zones overlap with disputed waters claimed by Tripoli. The ministry expressed deep concern and condemned the move as a clear violation of Libyan sovereignty, emphasizing that any activity in the area requires prior legal agreement under international law. Both sides from Tripoli and Benghazi called on the Greek government to suspend the process until a mutually acceptable solution is reached. The diplomatic rift comes just weeks before the scheduled visit of Greek Foreign Minister George Gerapetritis to Tripoli and Benghazi in early July. Greek diplomatic sources see this visit as an opportunity to restart dialogue on maritime delimitation, particularly regarding the continental shelf and Exclusive Economic Zones (EEZs). If bilateral talks fail, Athens could propose referring the matter to the International Court of Justice in The Hague, as Libya has done in past cases involving Malta and Tunisia. Tensions are further fueled by Libya’s growing alignment with Turkey. On Wednesday, Libya’s Energy Minister Abdel Sadek met with the Turkish ambassador in Tripoli to discuss enhancing cooperation in oil and natural gas, including potential returns of Turkish oil companies and collaboration between Libya’s National Oil Company and Turkey’s TPAO. In response, Athens maintains that Greece fully respects its rights under international maritime law. The Ministry of Environment and Energy stated that the licensing process complies with international rules and reflects the country’s sovereign authority. Meanwhile, the Libyan House of Representatives in the east, aligned with military leader Khalifa Haftar, appears poised to endorse the controversial Turkey-Libya maritime agreement, which disregards the legal influence of Greek islands like Crete in maritime boundaries—a stance Greece rejects outright. The shift in Haftar’s allies, traditionally opposed to Turkish influence, is seen in Athens as a development with serious geopolitical implications. Greece has recently intensified its diplomatic commitment in North Africa to counterbalance Ankara’s expanding presence in the region.