Egypt and Israel have joined Greece and the European Union in condemning the now notorious 2019 Turkey-Libya maritime agreement after the eastern Libyan parliament approved the deal this week, widening diplomatic opposition to a deal that has fueled disputes over maritime boundaries and sovereign rights in the eastern Mediterranean.
Egypt’s foreign ministry said Wednesday that the ratification by Libya’s House of Representatives – based in east Libya – of the 2019 memorandum was “absolutely null and void” and would have no legal effect on Egypt. Cairo also rejected any action based on the agreement that conflicts with its declared maritime boundaries.
The ministry argued that the memorandum violated international law of the sea and the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), particularly provisions governing the delimitation of exclusive economic zones and continental shelves. It said the agreement infringed on Egypt’s sovereign rights and reserved the country’s right to protect those rights against any attempt to violate them.
The statement followed a telephone conversation on Tuesday between Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty and his Greek counterpart, George Gerapetritis, during which they discussed the memorandum and its implications for regional security and stability.
Israel also strongly condemned the Libyan parliament’s decision on Wednesday, saying the agreement infringed on the sovereign rights of its close allies in the region.
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Israel strongly condemns the decision of the Libyan House of Representatives to ratify the Maritime Jurisdiction Memorandum between Turkey and Libya.
This agreement infringes upon the sovereign rights of our close allies in the region.Regretfully, once again we see Turkey working to destabilise the east Mediterranean region.
— Israel Foreign Ministry (@IsraelMFA) October 21, 2026
“Israel strongly condemns the decision of the Libyan House of Representatives to ratify the Maritime Jurisdiction Memorandum between Turkey and Libya. This agreement infringes upon the sovereign rights of our close allies in the region. Regretfully, once again, we see Turkey working to destabilise the eastern Mediterranean region,” the Israeli Foreign Ministry said.
The reactions followed the approval by the eastern-based House of Representatives of a maritime memorandum signed in November 2019 by Turkey and the then Tripoli-based Government of National Accord, led by Fayez al-Sarraj. The agreement seeks to delimit maritime jurisdiction between Turkey and Libya across parts of the Mediterranean.
The Turkish Foreign Ministry has defended the memorandum as consistent with international law, while lawmakers in eastern Libya have argued that its approval could bring strategic economic, political and national security benefits.
Greece has rejected that interpretation, arguing that Turkey and Libya do not have opposite or adjacent coastlines that would provide a lawful basis for the proposed delimitation. Athens also says the memorandum disregards the maritime entitlements of Greek islands, including Crete and islands in the southeastern Aegean.
The Greek foreign ministry has described the agreement as illegal, null and void, saying the parliamentary decision cannot alter geography or international law. Athens has said it has informed its partners and allies and will take appropriate measures to safeguard its sovereign rights.
The European Union has also reaffirmed its opposition. In a statement on Wednesday, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said the EU’s position, set out by the European Council in 2019, remained unchanged.
Von der Leyen said the agreement infringed on the sovereign rights of third states, did not comply with the Law of the Sea and was “null and void.” She also reaffirmed the EU’s solidarity with Greece and Cyprus and reiterated the bloc’s opposition to outside interference in Libya.
The dispute comes amid Libya’s continuing political division between rival administrations in the east and west. The 2019 agreement was concluded by the Tripoli-based government, which Turkey supported, and was rejected by Greece and Egypt. Its approval by the eastern parliament marks a significant development in the political handling of the deal but has not resolved the underlying disagreements over maritime jurisdiction in the eastern Mediterranean.