The US State Department has explicitly called the ratification of the Turkey-Libya maritime memorandum "unhelpful and pr...

The US State Department has explicitly called the ratification of the Turkey-Libya maritime memorandum "unhelpful and provocative," saying it has raised tensions in the Eastern Mediterranean and that Washington's position on the matter has not changed. The statement came after Libya's Benghazi-based parliament ratified the 2019 memorandum unanimously on October 20. That parliament had refused to recognize the agreement when it was originally signed by Turkey and the Tripoli-based government seven years ago, making last week's unanimous ratification a significant and unexpected shift. The State Department's latest statement was itself a correction. Its initial response on October 21 avoided any direct criticism of the deal, prompting serious concern in Athens. The Greek Embassy in Washington, working alongside the Hellenic American Leadership Council and congressional allies, pushed for a clearer public stance from the State Department. "We encourage all countries, including partners in the Eastern Mediterranean, to resolve maritime disputes through good-faith negotiations and avoid any provocative behavior," the spokesperson said. Washington also called on Greece and Turkey, both NATO allies, to engage bilaterally on their disagreements. Greece and Egypt consider the Turkey-Libya memorandum null and void under international law. Critics argue the deal draws a maritime boundary that effectively erases the legal entitlements of Greek islands, including Crete, which lie directly between the two countries. Under UNCLOS, islands are generally entitled to their own exclusive economic zone and continental shelf. The State Department reaffirmed that position in 2020, stating that the memorandum cannot affect the rights of third states such as Greece. Adding a new layer to the dispute, Turkish Defense Minister Yasar Guler said Saturday that Turkey is ready to sign a maritime deal with Egypt offering Cairo around 15,000 square kilometers more than any agreement with Greece would provide. Greek Foreign Minister Gerapetritis and Egyptian Foreign Minister Abdelatty spoke by phone Friday, agreeing to continue consultations under UNCLOS. #EasternMediterranean #GreeceT...