Greece and Egypt are set to begin negotiations on expanding their maritime boundary agreement in the Eastern Mediterranean, a move likely to heighten tensions over regional maritime claims involving Turkey and Libya. The decision was reached during a phone conversation between Greek Foreign Minister George Gerapetritis and Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty, with both countries agreeing to explore extending their exclusive economic zone (EEZ) eastward.
The existing maritime agreement between Greece and Egypt, signed in August 2020, delineates an EEZ between the 26th and 28th meridians. The planned extension aims to cover waters east of the 28th meridian, an area of strategic interest that includes the island of Rhodes. This initiative comes on the heels of Libya’s recent ratification of a maritime memorandum with Turkey, a development that has exacerbated disputes over maritime boundaries in the region.
Greece and Egypt have jointly rejected the Turkish-Libyan maritime pact, arguing that it fails to consider the role of islands in determining maritime boundaries. This stance is at odds with Turkey’s position, which maintains that the agreement with Libya is valid and should not be undermined by external assessments.
To move forward, Greece and Egypt plan to engage in technical-level consultations, marking the beginning of what could be a complex negotiation process. The issue is poised to gain further international attention as Greece intends to bring the implications of the Turkish-Libyan agreement to both the European Union and the United Nations, seeking a coordinated response.
The ongoing disputes underscore the broader geopolitical struggle for influence in the Eastern Mediterranean, with maritime jurisdiction and resource rights at the heart of the conflict. The Greek-Egyptian initiative highlights the persistent challenges in reaching a consensus over maritime boundaries in this strategically significant region.