Libya’s Parliament Speaker Aguila Saleh has formally declared the 2019 maritime border agreement with Turkey "null and void," opening a potential path for new boundary negotiations in the volatile Eastern Mediterranean.
Mr. Saleh’s declaration follows a high-stakes visit to Athens last week, where he met with Greek Foreign Minister Giorgos Gerapetritis.
In an interview with the Libyan News Agency released Sunday, Mr. Saleh stressed that the accord, signed by the former Tripoli-based government and Ankara, lacks constitutional validity because it was never ratified by Libya’s House of Representatives.
"Anything built on illegality remains illegal," Mr. Saleh said, asserting that the deal was a unilateral move by a transitional administration.
However, the speaker also delivered a sharp rebuke to Athens, complicating hopes for an easy alignment.
He criticized Greece’s reliance on the island of Crete to define its exclusive economic zone (EEZ), calling the approach "illogical" and inconsistent with international norms. Mr. Saleh emphasized that while the Turkey deal is dead, Libya’s sovereignty over its own territorial waters remains a "red line."
The statement marks a significant shift after six years of diplomatic ambiguity.
By voiding the Ankara pact, Mr. Saleh indicated Libya is ready to negotiate with Greece, Egypt, and Turkey simultaneously, refusing to align with any single bloc.
Opposition parties in Greece, including Syriza and Pasok, welcomed the rejection of the Turkish deal but urged the government to remain vigilant regarding Mr. Saleh’s hardline stance on Crete.