Turkey Pushes Libya to Ratify Maritime Deal
Ankara is urging new leadership to approve a 2019 agreement despite strong regional opposition.
Updated on Oct. 15, 2026 in Legislative Policy
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Turkey is pressuring Saddam Haftar to secure parliamentary ratification for a 2019 maritime memorandum that defines disputed boundaries in the Eastern Mediterranean. This move follows the election of Al-Saleheen Abdul-Nabi as the new Speaker of the Libyan House of Representatives.
Why it matters
Turkey seeks political legitimacy for its Blue Homeland maritime claims, which are currently rejected by Greece, Egypt, Cyprus, and Israel for ignoring continental shelf rights. Further delays in ratification may lead Ankara to withdraw its support for the Haftar family.
Libyan lawmakers recently ended the 12-year tenure of former Speaker Aguila Saleh by imposing new term limits. The House of Representatives subsequently elected Al-Saleheen Abdul-Nabi, who previously chaired the Libyan-Turkish Parliamentary Friendship Committee.
The players
Al-Saleheen Abdul-Nabi
He is the newly elected Speaker of the Libyan House of Representatives who previously chaired the Libyan-Turkish Parliamentary Friendship Committee.
Saddam Haftar
He is a prominent Libyan figure currently being pressured by Ankara to facilitate the legislative approval of the maritime agreement.
Aguila Saleh
He served as the Speaker of the Libyan House of Representatives for nearly 12 years before his tenure ended due to new term limits.
The details
Ankara is actively pressuring Saddam Haftar to use his influence to ensure the new Speaker brings the 2019 Turkey-Libya maritime memorandum to a vote. The agreement remains highly contentious internationally because it disregards the established continental shelf rights of Greek islands.
Timeline
In 2019, Turkey and Libya signed the contested maritime memorandum.
In October 2026, Libyan lawmakers elected Al-Saleheen Abdul-Nabi as Speaker.
Political Context
Opponents of the 2019 Turkey-Libya maritime memorandum, including Greece, Egypt, Cyprus, and Israel, argue the deal is illegal and violates established maritime laws. These nations maintain that the agreement fails to respect the sovereign continental shelf rights of neighboring islands.
The potential ratification of this agreement could escalate geopolitical tensions in the Eastern Mediterranean, impacting regional trade and maritime security. Citizens in the affected nations may see increased diplomatic friction or changes in naval activity as the border dispute continues.
The takeaway
The election of a new Speaker with close ties to the Turkish-Libyan friendship committee suggests a possible shift in Libya's legislative priorities. Observers should watch for upcoming parliamentary sessions to see if the House moves toward formalizing the controversial maritime boundary deal.
Further reading
For more on how international agreements are debated, visit the Legislative Policy section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Greek City Times.
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