Greece–Turkey tensions rise over Chevron energy deal south of Crete

Tensions between Athens and Ankara are mounting following a new energy exploration agreement led by Chevron south of the island of Crete, in a development that has once again thrust the eastern Mediterranean’s contested waters into the geopolitical spotlight.

The diplomatic escalation comes amid notable official silence from Tripoli, despite Libya being directly referenced in both Greek and Turkish reactions to the deal.

According to the news outlet Greek Reporter, Athens last week signed lease agreements with a consortium led by Chevron to explore for natural gas offshore Crete. The move marks a significant expansion of Greece’s energy ambitions and signals a deeper strategic footprint for the United States in the eastern Mediterranean.

Turkey: “An illegal step”

Ankara swiftly objected to the licensing decision. The Turkish Ministry of Defence described the exploration activities as incompatible with the 2019 maritime memorandum of understanding signed between Turkey and Libya, formally known as the Turkey-Libya maritime memorandum of understanding.

Turkish officials argue that the designated exploration blocks overlap with what they describe as Libya’s declared continental shelf. Ankara reaffirmed its support for the Libyan authorities in opposing what it characterised as “unlawful Greek manoeuvres”, warning that unilateral actions would undermine regional stability and violate international arrangements.

The maritime memorandum, concluded in November 2019 with the then Government of National Accord in Tripoli, redrew sea boundaries between Turkey and Libya — a move fiercely contested by Greece and several European partners.

Greece rejects criticism

Athens dismissed the Turkish accusations. Government spokesperson Pavlos Marinakis said Greece was exercising its sovereign rights in strict adherence to international maritime law, insisting that the licensing process complied fully with the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.

Greek Energy Minister Stavros Papastavrou, speaking in a radio interview, pointed to conclusions adopted by the European Council last June, which stated that the Turkey–Libya maritime memorandum infringes upon the sovereign rights of third states, contravenes the law of the sea and produces no legal consequences for other parties.

Papastavrou argued that the European position lends additional weight to Greece’s actions, describing the memorandum as “illegal and without legal foundation”. He added that Chevron’s decision to proceed with exploration projects south of Crete reflected the company’s confidence in the legal standing of Greece’s claims and its dismissal of Turkish objections.

Libya’s muted stance

Despite Ankara’s repeated references to Libya’s continental shelf and its declared backing of Libyan authorities, no formal response has yet emerged from Tripoli regarding the new Greek–Chevron agreement.

The absence of an official Libyan position comes at a time when the country remains politically divided, with competing institutions and ongoing disputes over the management of sovereign rights and energy resources.

As drilling prospects revive long-running disputes over maritime boundaries in the eastern Mediterranean, the latest episode underscores how energy exploration continues to intersect with unresolved geopolitical fault lines — and how Libya remains a pivotal, if presently silent, actor in the unfolding confrontation.