Egypt has renewed its opposition to the memorandum of understanding signed in 2019 between Turkey and Libya’s Government of National Accord concerning the delimitation of maritime jurisdiction areas in the Mediterranean Sea. Cairo considers the memorandum “absolutely null and void, with no legal effect,” raising questions about the reasons behind Egypt’s rejection.
Egyptian diplomats and analysts said that Cairo’s objection is primarily linked to what it considers an infringement of its sovereign maritime rights, as well as the lack of coordination with Egypt over maritime boundary arrangements that could affect its exclusive economic zone.
Why Does Egypt Reject the Agreement?
Former Egyptian Foreign Minister Ambassador Mohamed El-Orabi said that Cairo’s opposition to the memorandum was not new. Egypt has rejected it since 2019. The latest development is its ratification by Libya’s House of Representatives, amid changes in Libya’s political landscape, particularly following the election of a new speaker of the Libyan parliament.
Explaining the reasons for Egypt’s opposition, El-Orabi said that “the memorandum infringes on Egyptian interests.” He noted that Cairo had warned from the outset that maritime delimitation along these lines could overlap with its interests in its exclusive economic zone.
El-Orabi added that Greece had also rejected the memorandum, warning that its continued implementation could create problems in the Mediterranean. He argued that there was no need to proceed with the agreement without consultations and a review aimed at avoiding potential consequences.
Meanwhile, former Egyptian Assistant Foreign Minister Ambassador Hussein Haridi said that Egypt’s current position continues its official objection dating back to 2019, when Libyan authorities signed the memorandum with Turkey concerning maritime boundaries. He recalled that Egypt and Greece opposed the agreement at the time.
According to Haridi, the agreement failed to take into account the fact that the area concerned lies adjacent to Egypt’s exclusive economic zone. He argued that the Libyan authorities should have coordinated with Cairo before taking such a step.
He also stated that the European Union had not recognized the 2019 memorandum signed by the Tripoli government and Turkey, adding that its ratification by the Libyan parliament would not change the existing position toward it.
Could the Objection Trigger a Crisis With Turkey?
Former Egyptian Foreign Minister Mohamed El-Orabi ruled out the possibility that the dispute over the memorandum would lead to a crisis in relations between Cairo and Ankara. He pointed to the many issues the two countries share and said that the “quadrilateral framework” provides a safeguard for bilateral relations.
For his part, Nasr Salem, a professor of strategic studies and former head of Egypt’s military reconnaissance service, said that rejecting the agreement should not be interpreted as an attempt to provoke a crisis with Turkey or Libya. A disagreement over one specific issue, he argued, does not require ending cooperation in other areas.
Salem stressed that Egypt is directly concerned by any maritime boundary arrangements that could affect its rights. He said that the failure to consult Egypt was at the heart of Cairo’s objection. The presence of other countries in the region, including Greece and Cyprus, also makes it essential to take the rights of all concerned parties into account when discussing maritime arrangements.
He added that international relations involve both areas of disagreement and cooperation, particularly given the economic, military and industrial ties between Egypt and Turkey. Therefore, opposition to the memorandum does not necessarily signal a bilateral crisis but instead calls for a review of the disputed maritime boundary arrangements.
How Did the Dispute Begin in 2019?
The dispute dates back to November 27, 2019, when Turkey and Libya’s Government of National Accord, then led by Fayez al-Sarraj, signed two memorandums of understanding. One concerned security and military cooperation, while the other dealt with maritime boundaries and the delimitation of maritime jurisdiction areas in the Mediterranean.
The maritime memorandum prompted objections from Egypt, Greece and Cyprus because of the boundary line drawn between Turkey and Libya. These countries argued that the agreement disregarded their maritime rights and claims in the eastern Mediterranean.
The dispute centers on overlapping claims involving exclusive economic zones and continental shelves, as well as the associated rights to explore for and exploit natural resources.
Since the memorandum was signed, Turkey and Libya’s Government of National Accord have maintained that it is valid, while Egypt, Greece and Cyprus have rejected it. The European Union has also opposed the memorandum, arguing that it infringes on the rights of third countries and is inconsistent with the law of the sea.
In its latest statement, Egypt’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs renewed its rejection of the memorandum and of any measures or actions based on it that conflict with Egypt’s officially declared maritime boundaries. The ministry affirmed that Egypt reserves the right to protect its interests and rights in accordance with international law.
The ministry also stated that the memorandum violates the principles of international law of the sea and the provisions of the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea concerning the delimitation of exclusive economic zones and continental shelves. According to Cairo, these provisions are based on principles of justice and equity, while the memorandum clearly infringes on Egypt’s sovereign rights within its exclusive economic zone and over its continental shelf.
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