Eastern Libya parliament approves maritime deal with Turkey, drawing Greek rejection

Libya's eastern parliament approved a ​maritime boundaries deal with Turkey on Tuesday, drawing swift condemnation ​from Greece which called it a violation of international law.

The ‌deal ​is part of a years-old dispute over competing claims to sea borders and energy exploration rights in the eastern Mediterranean. It was originally agreed in 2019 by Libya’s internationally recognised government in Tripoli in the west, but ‌the rival eastern administration under military commander Khalifa Haftar had withheld its approval for years.

Greece, Egypt and Cyprus have long been opposed to the deal, which they see as infringing on their own maritime claims. In a foreign ministry statement, Athens said the deal "remains illegal, null and void, contravenes international law of the ‌sea, and infringes upon the sovereign rights of states in the region."

"We call on the Libyan side to refrain from any action that contravenes ‌International Law and undermines stability in the Eastern Mediterranean," it said. Athens and Cairo signed an overlapping deal designating an exclusive economic zone in the eastern Mediterranean in 2020, which Turkey opposes.

Last year, Greece approved hydrocarbon exploration for a consortium led by US major Chevron south of Crete, condemned by Ankara as "unlawful." WARMING RELATIONS

Libya broke apart into rival eastern and western administrations more than a ⁠decade ago ​during a civil war after longtime Libyan ⁠leader Muammar Gaddafi was toppled by a NATO-backed uprising. Turkish support was crucial to repelling an assault by Haftar's forces on Tripoli in 2019-2020.

But relations have steadily improved in recent years, ⁠with Turkish officials paying regular visits to Haftar’s de facto capital, Benghazi, and investing heavily in construction and other sectors. In the same session, the eastern parliament also reversed a 2020 ​decision to cut off political ties with Ankara.

The move to ratify the deal marks a "complete reversal" which "reveals the depth of the relationship ⁠between Ankara and Benghazi today," said Anas El Gomati, head of the Sadeq Institute, a Libyan think tank. The vote had been eased by the replacement earlier this month of the long-serving parliament ⁠speaker, ​Aguila Saleh, widely seen as an ally of Egypt, he added.

Saddam Haftar, the deputy of Haftar, welcomed parliament's approval in a statement, calling the deal "a tool that can help protect Libya’s rights and economic interests in the Mediterranean." Libyan lawmaker Tarek al-Jeroushi told Reuters the agreement would strengthen Libya's position as ⁠a political, military and economic partner to major powers.

"Some countries may be upset by this agreement, but what matters to us is our national interest," ⁠he said. Jalel Harchaoui, a contributor to ⁠Britain's Royal United Services Institute think tank, said the vote could also open the way to an expanded Turkish military presence in the east.

"Today's parliamentary ratification is a watershed," he said.