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Turkey is ready to sign a maritime boundary agreement with Egypt that would give Cairo more than 15,000 square kilometers of additional maritime jurisdiction compared with a potential deal with Greece, the Turkish Defense Ministry said on October 28.

The ministry reiterated the offer during a weekly briefing, saying an agreement with Egypt could be reached on the basis of mutual interests.

It also welcomed the eastern-based Libyan House of Representatives’ October 20 approval of a 2019 maritime agreement with Turkey, describing the decision as an important development supporting Ankara’s approach to international law and equitable maritime boundaries.

“Our proposal to Egypt is clear. If Egypt signs such an agreement with our country, it will have approximately 15,000 square kilometers more maritime jurisdiction than it could have under a potential agreement with Greece,” Defense Minister Yaşar Güler said.

The Turkish-Libyan agreement has long been opposed by Egypt, Greece and Cyprus, which argue that it conflicts with their maritime claims in the eastern Mediterranean.

Turkey maintains that the agreement is legitimate and protects its interests in the strategically important waters, where competing claims over maritime boundaries and potential energy resources have fueled years of disputes.

The latest escalation began when Libya’s eastern-based parliament approved the agreement, reversing its previous opposition to the deal and its earlier decision to sever political ties with Ankara. The memorandum was originally signed in 2019 by Turkey and Libya’s internationally recognized government in Tripoli, which controlled the country’s west.

Egypt rejected the parliamentary approval the following day, saying it had no legal effect on Cairo and that the memorandum infringed on its sovereign rights in its exclusive economic zone and continental shelf.

It also argued that the agreement violated international maritime law and the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.

Cairo reinforced its opposition through diplomatic contacts with Ankara. On October 24, Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty told his Turkish counterpart, Hakan Fidan, that the memorandum was null and void and that Egypt rejected any measures taken under it that contradicted its declared maritime boundaries.

Turkey expressed understanding of Egypt’s concerns and stressed the importance of continued consultations, according to Egypt’s Foreign Ministry.

Egypt has also coordinated with Greece, which signed a maritime delimitation agreement with Cairo in 2020. The two countries reaffirmed their rejection of the Turkish-Libyan arrangement on October 22 and agreed to continue consultations on maritime boundaries. Greece, from its part, said the countries are discussing extending their maritime zone eastward toward Cyprus.

On October 26, Egypt and Greece joined Cyprus, the European Union, Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates in a joint declaration at the UN opposing the Turkish-Libyan agreement.

The signatories warned that the arrangement raised serious concerns about regional security and stability and could establish a precedent for bilateral agreements that undermine international law. They also argued that the memorandum could not override the maritime rights of third countries.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan dismissed the criticism on the same day, saying objections by the European Union and other parties to the agreement’s approval lacked a legitimate legal basis. Ankara also maintained that it does not seek to gain at the expense of other countries in the eastern Mediterranean.

Turkey’s renewed offer to Egypt appears to be an attempt to avoid further escalation. Cairo seems open to talks. However, taking into account its long stance on the issue, it is unlikely that it will make any concessions.

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