Türkiye, Libya and Egypt: A Mediterranean Deal Divides Allies ‎

A maritime agreement signed seven years ago is reshaping alliances in the Eastern Mediterranean. Its ratification by Libya's eastern parliament has drawn objections from Israel and Egypt, and an uneasy response from Washington.

What was agreed
The memorandum was signed on 27 November 2019 by Türkiye and Libya's then Tripoli-based Government of National Accord, to delimit maritime jurisdictions between them.

The decisive step came recently. Libya's House of Representatives, the eastern-based parliament, ratified it on 20 October 2026. That matters because the east is the camp of Khalifa Haftar.

The move marks a significant shift in relations between Ankara and Haftar's camp, once among Türkiye's most prominent opponents in Libya.

Why Egypt and Israel object
Egypt moved quickly. Its Foreign Ministry said the ratification would have no legal impact on Cairo. Cairo has long argued the 2019 text harms its interests, and it signed its own maritime deal with Greece in August 2020.

Israel also condemned the vote. Its Foreign Ministry said the decision violates the sovereign rights of close allies in the region. Energy ties help explain the position. Israel, Egypt and Greece are founding members of the East Mediterranean Gas Forum, which excludes Türkiye, and the deal could see Turkish vessels exploring in waters claimed by Greece and Cyprus.

The American position
Washington's stance is less clear-cut. Ahram Online reported that the US called the ratification "unhelpful and provocative." Israel Hayom, however, described Israel, Greece and Egypt as angry that Washington called for dialogue rather than standing up to Erdoğan. So "the US disagrees" is accurate in tone, but Washington has not matched its allies' firmness.

Ankara's outreach to Cairo
Türkiye is pairing the Libya deal with diplomacy toward Egypt. Its Defence Ministry said it was ready to sign a deal with Egypt that would expand Cairo's maritime zone. Türkiye's land forces commander visited Egypt, and a joint naval exercise was announced in Alexandria for 4 to 9 November.

Meanwhile, Egypt's foreign minister pressed Libya in Tripoli on 7 November to take Cairo's concerns into account on sea borders, with no date or agenda for talks confirmed. Türkiye's foreign minister acknowledged Egypt's concerns, though no formal four-country mechanism with Libya, Italy and Egypt exists.

Conclusion
The agreement exposes a split between Egypt, Israel and Greece, which share energy and security interests, and a Türkiye that is expanding its reach through Libya's rival camps. Greece, Cyprus and Egypt remain firm, but Cairo is also keeping its channel to Ankara open. For Africa, the lesson is that North African waters and resources are now bargaining chips in a larger contest between Mediterranean powers.

Mustapha Bature Sallama
Medical/ Science Communicator,
Private Investigator, Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Analysis,
International Conflict Management and Peacebuilding. (USIP)
[email protected]
+233555275880

References
Ahram Online, "US calls ratification of Turkey-Libya maritime deal 'unhelpful and provocative'" (25 Oct 2026)

Cyprus Mail, "Egypt condemns Turkey-Libya maritime deal" (21 Oct 2026)

MarineLink, "Egypt Rejects Libyan Maritime Boundary Deal With Turkiye"

Israel Hayom, "Israel, Egypt, Greece furious as US refuses to stand up to Erdogan" (22 Oct 2026)

Times of Israel, "Turkey says it is willing to sign natural gas deal with Egypt"

Al Jazeera, "Can Turkiye's Libya breakthrough reshape Eastern Mediterranean diplomacy?" (29 Oct 2026)

Rio Times, "Egypt Presses Libya for Sea Border Talks" (9 Nov 2026)