In the context of ongoing disputes in the Eastern Mediterranean, Greece and Egypt have agreed to initiate talks on extending their exclusive economic zone (EEZ) agreement. This development comes amid rising tensions over maritime claims involving Turkey and Libya. The Greek Foreign Minister, George Gerapetritis, and Egyptian Foreign Minister, Badr Abdelatty, discussed this initiative during a recent telephone conversation, underlining their commitment to advancing the existing agreement signed in August 2020, which established a maritime boundary between the 26th and 28th meridians.
The proposed extension aims to cover waters east of the 28th meridian, a region that includes areas surrounding the Greek island of Rhodes. This move follows Libya’s recent ratification of a maritime memorandum with Turkey, a development that Greece and Egypt have publicly rejected. Both Athens and Cairo assert that islands should be considered in determining maritime boundaries, a principle they claim is overlooked in the Turkish-Libyan agreement.
As Greece and Egypt prepare for technical-level consultations, the situation highlights the broader regional disputes over maritime jurisdiction and influence. Greece has indicated plans to raise concerns about the Turkish-Libyan memorandum with the European Union and the United Nations, seeking a coordinated international response. Meanwhile, Turkey maintains that third-party assessments cannot invalidate its agreement with Libya.
The Greek-Egyptian talks underscore the persistent challenges in resolving competing maritime claims in the Eastern Mediterranean, a region rich in potential energy resources. By pursuing an extension of their EEZ agreement, Greece and Egypt aim to solidify their maritime rights while countering the implications of the Turkish-Libyan pact.