Egypt Deepens Clash with Türkiye Following Libya Maritime Deal

Addis Ababa, October 23, 2026 (ENA) — Egypt and Türkiye have renewed their dispute over maritime boundaries in the Eastern Mediterranean following a decision by Libya’s eastern-based House of Representatives to endorse a 2019 maritime agreement between Ankara and the authorities in Tripoli.

Egypt’s Foreign Ministry declared the move “null and void,” arguing that the ratification infringes on Egypt’s sovereign rights and has no legal effect.

Türkiye, meanwhile, maintains that the arrangement is consistent with its interpretation of international maritime law.

The dispute centers on a memorandum signed in November 2019 by Türkiye and Libya’s then internationally recognized Government of National Accord to define maritime boundaries in the Eastern Mediterranean. Egypt, Greece, and Cyprus opposed the agreement, arguing that it conflicts with their maritime claims.

The latest diplomatic clash reflects broader geopolitical rivalries involving Egypt and other regional actors over maritime jurisdiction, natural resources, security, and political influence.

Egypt has faced criticism over its regional policies, with analysts questioning whether its pursuit of strategic interests could contribute to instability and intensify competition over regional resources.

For instance, reports recently showed that Egyptian strikes massacred at least 200 Sudanese miners and wounded many others at mining sites in Sudan’s North Al-Wadi area.

The reported attacks have raised concerns over civilian safety and Egypt’s involvement in Sudan’s ongoing conflict.

Some observers view the reported attacks as part of Egypt’s broader involvement in Sudan, where competing domestic and external interests have complicated efforts to end the war.

In a recent interview with ENA, Abdulshakur Abdulsamad, Senior Researcher at the Center for Strategic Studies and Regional Integration Initiative, argued that Egypt seeks to prolong the war in Sudan to continue benefiting from the country’s water resources.

The ongoing conflict could allow Egypt to benefit from larger-than-usual quantities of water that Sudan has been unable to utilize, the senior researcher noted.

Egypt’s relations with Ethiopia have also been strained by disagreements over Nile water utilization. Cairo has opposed aspects of Ethiopia’s development plans, particularly the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD), while Ethiopia maintains its right to use its natural resources for development, including electricity generation.

The dispute highlights longstanding differences between upstream and downstream countries over equitable water utilization and regional cooperation.

Egypt’s role in Sudan’s ongoing conflict has also drawn scrutiny from political analysts, who question whether Cairo’s support for the Sudanese Armed Forces could affect prospects for peace and strengthen its influence over Sudan’s political future.

The war between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces, which began on April 15, 2023, has devastated Sudan’s economy and infrastructure, displaced millions of people, and disrupted regional trade.

Food and Agriculture Organization estimates indicate that Sudan’s grain production in 2025 declined by 22 percent compared with the previous year.

Some analysts argue that Egypt is pursuing strategic interests in Sudan in ways that could prolong the conflict.

Israel, meanwhile, criticized the maritime deal, accusing its regional rival Türkiye of destabilizing the Eastern Mediterranean. The dispute has renewed attention to the region’s overlapping maritime claims and potential energy resources.

Cairo is particularly concerned that the agreement could affect hydrocarbon exploration rights and undermine its regional partnerships.

Türkiye insists that the pact remains valid, setting the stage for a sharper diplomatic confrontation over maritime boundaries.

According to reports, Egypt supports Field Marshal Khalifa Haftar and the Libyan National Army (LNA) in eastern Libya primarily to secure its approximately 1,100-kilometer desert border, combat Islamist militant groups, and counter the influence of regional rivals such as Türkiye.

The eastern Libyan parliament’s decision to ratify the agreement previously signed between Türkiye and the Tripoli-based Government of National Accord signals a potential shift that directly challenges Cairo’s position in the Eastern Mediterranean.

The parliament, aligned with eastern Libya and based in Tobruk, reversed years of opposition to the Türkiye-Libya maritime deal following the election of a new speaker, Al-Salhin Abdelnabi al-Obeidi.

By aligning eastern authorities with an agreement originally signed by western Libya’s Tripoli-based authorities, the decision could indicate a shift toward a more unified Libyan position on the pact.

The European Union opposed the ratification, backing Greece’s position and maintaining that the agreement infringes on the maritime rights of an EU member state.