Greece softens tone, invites Libya to maritime talks

Greece’s Foreign Minister Giorgos Gerapetritis has said Libya has effectively respected Greece’s maritime median line in recent hydrocarbon licensing decisions, even as the two countries remain at odds over maritime zones in the eastern Mediterranean.

Speaking to national broadcaster Open TV on 25 August 2025, Gerapetritis said Athens is seeking formal maritime delimitation talks with Libya in line with international law.

He added that Libya’s licensing activity aligns with Greece’s equidistance line and has not challenged Greece’s declared Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) boundaries.

The minister underlined that Greece aims to build balanced relations with both Libyan administrations, describing Greece as the only EU member maintaining high-level dialogue with both Tripoli and Benghazi. He linked this engagement to a decline in irregular migration flows from eastern Libya in recent months.

Gerapetritis also confirmed that Greece had filed a formal response at the United Nations to a Libyan note verbale contesting Greece’s maritime claims.

He said Athens reiterated its legal stance, citing EEZ agreements with Egypt and Italy signed in 2020, and rejected any attempt to override international law.

Relations between Athens and Tripoli have been strained since the 2019 Turkey–Libya maritime memorandum, which Greece considers null and void under the Law of the Sea.

The Greek foreign minister’s latest remarks indicate a renewed push for diplomatic engagement with Libya to settle outstanding boundaries.