LIBYA RATIFIES EEZ WITH TURKEY

Libya's Parliament has ratified the memorandum of understanding with Turkey to create a mutual exclusive economic zone in the Mediterranean, from the coast of east Libya to the coast of south west Turkey, cutting off the Greek island of Crete and isolating Cyprus economically. Greece and Egypt have already condemned the move, as has the EU by mouth of Mrs Von der Leyen (link), Foreign Affairs Czar Kaja Kallas (link) and its Mediterranean Commissar (link). Here is how the EEZ boundaries are supposed to look like without Turkey joining its EEZ to Libya. 

EEZ boundaries at Eastern Mediterranean as per International Law of the Sea — United Nations https://t.co/AFtWFCWoZN

— Charalampos of Thessaloniki (@craoft) October 22, 2026

First of all we have to remind ourselves, what is an Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) and how is it different from territorial waters. 

In brief: an EEZ is a maritime area extending up to 200 nautical miles (370 km) from a coastal nation's baseline, within which the state holds sovereign rights to explore, exploit, conserve, and manage natural resources.

The concept was established by the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) of which Turkey is not a signatory.

Territorial waters on the other hand extend to 12 nautical miles. The surface waters remain international waters. Consequently, other nations retain the freedom of navigation, overflight and the laying of submarine cables, provided they do not engage in unauthorized resource exploitation or scientific research without permission.

A tweet by Iosif Lazarides explains the dispute with Turkey in 4 parts.  

2/4 https://t.co/7YW0ijoMDp

— Iosif Lazaridis (@iosif_lazaridis) October 21, 2026

4/4 https://t.co/EcTK2MoQ9f

— Iosif Lazaridis (@iosif_lazaridis) October 21, 2026

Another topic but connected, is the Greece-Cyprus electricity interconnection (GSI). Kathimerini is reporting that Athens sees a narrow opening to resolve the dispute, interpreting recent Turkish remarks as a possible willingness to accept written notification rather than require authorization.

A Greek diplomatic source told Kathimerini that Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan’s comments to Ta Nea newspaper could leave room for an understanding, although Athens remains cautious because Turkey’s officially position (link). 

We are now anxiously waiting for the US position on the Turkey-Libyan mutual EEZ. 

- Turkey, Libya, EEZ, GSI, UNCLOS, EU -