Egypt is preparing a legal case against a disputed maritime agreement between Turkey and Libya, as Cairo steps up diplomatic contacts with countries that share its concerns. The Egyptian Foreign Ministry said on Sunday, October 25, that legal experts were helping prepare a detailed file on the 2019 agreement. Officials argue that the deal affects Egypt’s maritime rights in the eastern Mediterranean, including its exclusive economic zone and continental shelf. The move shows that Egypt is seeking to challenge the agreement through international law while keeping diplomatic channels open.
Foreign Ministry spokesperson Nader Zaki said Egypt had maintained direct contact with Turkish and Libyan officials over the previous 24 hours. Cairo has also been speaking with Cyprus, Greece, the European Union, and other international partners. Egypt wants to explain its legal position and explore possible steps under international law. The government has said that its response is not limited to accepting the agreement or moving towards a wider confrontation. Instead, it is preparing legal arguments while continuing discussions with the countries involved.
The dispute centres on a maritime memorandum signed by Turkey and Libya in November 2019. The agreement set out claims concerning maritime jurisdiction in the Mediterranean. Egypt has long rejected the arrangement, arguing that it harms its rights and cannot create valid legal effects against the country. The issue has gained fresh attention after Libya’s eastern-based parliament approved the memorandum on October 20, reversing an earlier position. Cairo rejected that approval and said it did not change Egypt’s legal rights.
Maritime boundaries can affect access to resources and control over economic activity at sea. Exclusive economic zones give coastal states specific rights over activities such as exploring and using marine resources, while continental shelf claims relate to seabed resources. When countries disagree over where those areas begin and end, the dispute can affect energy exploration, drilling, and investment decisions. A clear legal position matters because companies may hesitate to operate in an area where competing claims could lead to court action or diplomatic tension.
Egypt says its position is based on international maritime law and the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea. Zaki said the government was examining possible legal steps, including action intended to halt exploration or drilling while a dispute is being resolved. Any such measure would depend on the legal process and the decisions of the relevant bodies. Egypt is also pointing to maritime boundary agreements it has reached with Cyprus and Greece as part of its wider argument.
The diplomatic picture remains complex. Turkey and Libya signed their agreement in a different regional context, and the parties continue to hold different views about its validity. Turkish officials have indicated that consultations may be possible, while Egyptian officials say the agreement has no legal standing against Egypt. These differences mean that a quick settlement is not guaranteed. Continued talks could nevertheless help reduce the risk of further tension and clarify which issues may be open to discussion.
The dispute also matters for the wider eastern Mediterranean, where countries have competing interests in energy, shipping, and maritime security. Egypt, Greece, and Cyprus have previously coordinated their positions on the agreement. Their shared concerns do not remove the need for legal procedures, but they give Cairo regional partners as it seeks support for its arguments. The European Union is also involved in the wider diplomatic debate because maritime claims can affect relations between neighbouring states.
Egypt’s next steps will depend on the legal assessment and the response from Turkey, Libya, and other parties. Preparing a detailed file may strengthen Cairo’s ability to explain its claims, but it will not settle the dispute on its own. A lasting solution would require clear legal reasoning and continued communication between the countries concerned. For now, Egypt is signalling that it intends to defend its maritime interests through legal and diplomatic means while resisting a move that it believes could affect its rights in the Mediterranean.
