Greece and Egypt are set to enter negotiations to expand their maritime boundary agreement in the Eastern Mediterranean, amid escalating tensions involving Turkey and Libya over competing maritime claims. This development was discussed in a recent telephone conversation between Greek Foreign Minister George Gerapetritis and Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty.
The two countries aim to extend their exclusive economic zone (EEZ) agreement eastward, beyond the current boundary established in August 2020. The existing agreement delineates an EEZ between the 26th and 28th meridians, with the proposed extension covering waters east of the 28th meridian, which passes through the island of Rhodes.
This initiative comes in response to Libya’s ratification of a maritime agreement with Turkey, which has further fueled regional disputes over maritime boundaries. Athens and Cairo have expressed opposition to the Turkish-Libyan memorandum, arguing that it fails to consider islands when determining maritime boundaries, a principle they support.
As Greece and Egypt prepare for technical-level consultations to advance their discussions, Greece has also signaled its intention to involve the European Union and the United Nations. The country plans to raise concerns about the implications of the Turkish-Libyan agreement, seeking a coordinated international response.
Turkey, on the other hand, maintains that the memorandum with Libya is valid, asserting that outside assessments cannot invalidate the agreement. This ongoing Greek-Egyptian initiative underscores the persistent disagreements over maritime jurisdiction and influence in the Eastern Mediterranean region.