# State Department Calls the Turkey-Libya Maritime Deal 'Unhelpful and Provocative' as Greece, the EU and Israel Object

Washington says the eastern Libyan parliament's approval of the accord raised regional tensions. Ankara calls it legitimate, while Athens, Brussels and Jerusalem reject it.

- Section: [World](https://rightnewsrightnow.com/world/)
- Published: 2026-11-01
- By: RightNewsRightNow Staff
- Canonical page: https://rightnewsrightnow.com/articles/us-state-department-turkey-libya-maritime-deal-unhelpful-provocative-greece-eu-israel-fox-news/

The U.S. State Department has criticized a maritime agreement between Turkey and Libya, calling it "unhelpful and provocative," Fox News reports.

The deal. The eastern Libyan parliament approved the accord in mid-October. Fox says the region is ruled by military leader Khalifa Haftar, who has allied with Turkey, and that the deal ignores Libya's internationally recognized government in Tripoli. Critics say it redraws sea borders in a part of the Mediterranean where large gas deposits may lie.

Washington's position. A State Department spokesperson told Fox: "The announcement of the ratification of the Turkish-Libyan delimitation memorandum of understanding has raised tensions in the region and is unhelpful and provocative," and said its position has not changed. The spokesperson urged countries to settle maritime disputes through good-faith negotiation and noted that Greece and Turkey are both NATO allies.

Ankara's answer. Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan said Wednesday the agreement is "entirely legitimate" legally and politically and not in violation of international law, according to the Turkish agency Anadolu. Fox says it sought comment from Turkey and Libya and got no response.

The objections. Greek Foreign Minister George Gerapetritis wrote that the memorandum "will not be implemented" because it has no legal effect. The European Union called it "null and void" and said it infringes the rights of third states. Israel's foreign ministry said on X it "strongly condemns" the Libyan parliament's ratification and accused Turkey of working to destabilize the eastern Mediterranean.

The U.S. angle. Endy Zemenides of the Hellenic American Leadership Council told Fox the deal infringes on U.S. companies and energy policy and denies maritime zones to Crete, which he called NATO's southernmost base. He named Exxon and Chevron as American firms present there. That is one advocate's view.

What to keep in mind. Fox's report is built on one State Department statement and the parties' public positions. It does not say what the U.S. will do next, and Libya's side was not heard.

## Source

Original reporting: [Fox News](https://www.foxnews.com/world/us-calls-turkey-libya-maritime-deal-unhelpful-and-provocative-amid-regional-backlash)