Libya and Greece aim to resolve maritime dispute
Libya and Greece are re-entering negotiations over a long-running dispute regarding their respective exclusive economic zones in the Mediterranean Sea, as reported by The New Arab plus agencies on September 17th.
Athens announced the news on September 17th, confirming the talks with the Tripoli-based, UN-backed Government of National Unity (GNU), after Libya’s foreign minister Taher Salem Al Baour visited the Greek capital.
“The two ministers announced the start of the process for the delimitation of the Exclusive Economic Zone between Greece and Libya”, foreign ministry spokesperson Lana Zohiou said in a statement.
The next meeting is set to be held in the Libyan capital Tripoli, she added.
Relations between the two countries have been uneasy since 2019, when Libya signed a maritime delimitation agreement with Turkey, enraging Greece as they perceive the deal to disregard the rights of Greek islands.
Even recently this month, Greece sent the United Nations a letter rejecting Libya’s claims which stretch over areas south of Crete that Athens has earmarked for hydrocarbon exploration.
Diplomatic ties with Greece are further complicated by Libya’s unstable political situation. Libya is currently divided between two rival administrations with the GNU recognised by the UN, and the eastern Libyan Government of National Stability (GNS), influenced by Commander Khalifa Haftar.
Haftar and Greece agreed a deal in July 2025 regarding irregular migration, with Greece providing specialist training for Haftar’s officers to better tackle illegal migration.
The deal underscored Greece’s desire to counteract Libya’s maritime deal with Turkey, even if it meant legitimising Haftar’s Libyan National Army and the eastern administration.
Libya themselves have been seeking other maritime deals to boost EU cooperation and help control migration flows. Recently, they have entered discussions with Malta to help strengthen regional stability across the mediterranean and install development initiatives in Libya to address the root causes of irregular migration into Europe.
The New Arab plus agencies, Maghrebi.org
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