Greece and the United Nations-recognized government of Libya have reached an agreement to initiate talks aimed at resolving a protracted dispute regarding their exclusive economic zones (EEZs) in the Mediterranean Sea. This development was announced by the Greek foreign ministry following a visit from Libya’s foreign minister, Taher Salem Al Baour, to Athens.
According to a statement from foreign ministry spokeswoman Lana Zohiou, the two officials confirmed the commencement of the delimitation process for the EEZ between their respective countries. The initial discussions were held in Athens, with plans for a subsequent meeting scheduled to take place in Tripoli, Libya’s capital.
The diplomatic tension between Greece and Libya intensified in 2019 when Libya signed a maritime delimitation agreement with Turkey. Greece has criticized this agreement for disregarding the rights of its islands in the region. Recently, Athens formalized its objections by submitting a letter to the United Nations, where it rejected Libya’s claims to territories south of Crete, areas that Greece has designated for hydrocarbon exploration.
Libya continues to grapple with significant challenges, including division and instability that have persisted since the NATO-backed uprising that led to the ousting of longtime leader Moamer Kadhafi in 2011. The country remains split between a UN-recognized government in the west and an eastern rival, which is supported by military commander Khalifa Haftar.
This new dialogue between Greece and Libya is seen as a potential step toward easing tensions and fostering cooperation in an area critical for both nations, particularly concerning resource exploration and maritime rights in the Mediterranean.
