The reaction from Turkey to the diplomatic maneuvers of Greece and Cyprus was intense, following the European Council’s condemnation of the Turco-Libyan memorandum. Brussels emphasized that the agreement ‘violates the sovereign rights of third countries, does not conform with international maritime law, and cannot have legal consequences for third states.’
Specifically, sources from Turkey’s Ministry of Defense told journalists that Ankara does not accept the positions of Athens and Nicosia regarding the Turco-Libyan memorandum, stressing that it was drafted ‘in accordance with the rules of international maritime law,’ as reported today (03.07.2025) by SKAI correspondent in Istanbul, Manolis Kostidis.
‘The Memorandum of Cooperation on Maritime Jurisdictions signed between our country and Libya in 2019 was prepared in a way that protects the rights of both countries within the framework of equality, in line with the rules of international maritime law. The Memorandum of Cooperation was communicated to the United Nations by both our country and Libya,’ said Turkish defense ministry sources.
They further added: ‘Characterizing our Memorandum of Understanding as ‘illegal’ as a result of the unilateral political directives of Greece and the ‘Greek Cypriot Administration of Southern Cyprus’ is not acceptable from our side. The Memorandum was established according to the median line between continental territories, the principle of non-exclusion, and the principle of equality.’
Egypt’s Role
It is recalled that Egypt is trying to prevent any changes to the balance of power in the eastern Mediterranean, under the shadow of growing ties between Turkey and General Khalifa Haftar, who controls eastern Libya.
According to Middle East Eye (MEE), Egypt has requested the United States to intervene and prevent the parliament of eastern Libya from ratifying the controversial Turco-Libyan memorandum. An Egyptian official stated that if the memorandum, initially signed by the rival western government of eastern Libya in 2019, were ratified, it could cause tensions in the Eastern Mediterranean — at a time when Egypt is already dealing with the fallout of wars in Gaza and Sudan.
Two other sources said that Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty raised the issue of U.S. intervention during a phone call last month with Massouda Jalil (corrected to accurate name per context), the senior U.S. advisor for Africa.