New tensions are being registered in the already complicated and charged landscape of Greek-Libyan relations, with the Libyan Government of National Unity in the… constellation of Turkey and officially accusing Athens of violating its sovereign rights. The occasion was the announcement by the Greek authorities, on June 12, 2025, through the EU, of an international call for bids for hydrocarbon exploration and exploitation licenses in marine areas south of Crete.

According to the Libyan Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, part of these areas fall, according to Tripoli, in maritime zones under dispute. The Libyan statement expresses “grave concern” and claims that these actions are a “clear violation” of Libya’s sovereign rights, stressing that any activity in the area requires prior legal agreement on the basis of international law.

Libya’s reaction comes as preparations are underway for Foreign Minister George Gerapetritis’ visit to Tripoli and Benghazi, scheduled for early July.

The reaction of the Libyan Foreign Ministry, however, adds new data to the planned visit of Gerapetritis to Tripoli, as it provides an opportunity for a well-prepared proposal to both sides of Libya to resume dialogue on the issue of the delimitation of the continental shelf/EEZ between the two countries. In case of no result, then the dispute could be referred to The Hague. Libya has already done something similar in the past, on the delimitation of its EEZ with Malta and Tunisia.

After the contacts that the Greek ambassador in Tripoli, N. Garilidis, and the consul general Mr. Kalognomis had in Eastern Libya with the president of the Parliament A. Saleh, the programme of visits to Tripoli and Benghazi for the first week of July had been finalised, which included meetings with the government of Tripoli, as well as with General Haftar and the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the government appointed by the Parliament in Eastern Libya. In fact, according to reports from Tobruk, assurances had been given that the negative stance towards the Turkmen Memorandum remained firm.

Turkey’s role

It is no coincidence that, wanting Tripoli to send another message, Energy Minister Abdel Sadiq held a meeting with the Turkish ambassador to Libya on Wednesday to discuss strengthening strategic ties in the oil and gas sector, according to a ministry statement.

Discussions included possible cooperation between the Libyan National Oil Company and the Turkish Petroleum Company (TPAO) to increase investment and technical exchanges, and the Libyan minister had called for the return of Turkish oil companies during a meeting with Turkey’s Energy Minister, Alpaslan Bayraktar, at the natural resources summit in Istanbul last month.

How Athens is reacting

In Athens, the announcement is seen as a clear indication that the Greek side does not hesitate to proceed with the exercise of its legitimate sovereign rights, regardless of the opposition.

The Ministry of Environment and Energy stresses that Greece is acting on the basis of the provisions of International Law and the Law of the Sea, exercising in practice its national sovereignty. Government sources also stress that Athens remains open to dialogue, but with international legality as an un-negotiable principle.

The timeline of the new escalation is also linked to the latest moves by Libya’s House of Representatives, which is under the influence of Marshal Khalifa Haftar. This body now appears to be moving towards the approval of the illegal Turkish-Libyan memorandum, which provides for maritime delimitation of the EEZ between Turkey and Libya, completely ignoring the influence of the Greek islands, including Crete.

The activation of the Haftar side as Ankara’s channel of influence is assessed in Athens as a development with serious geopolitical implications, at a time when Greece is strengthening its diplomatic presence in North Africa consistently and strategically.

The position of SYRIZA

SYRIZA stated the issue that has arisen with Libya, stating that the party: “strongly protests the announcement by the Foreign Ministry of the interim government of Libya, which accuses Greece of attempting to usurp its sovereign rights, on the occasion of the international tender for the exploration of hydrocarbons south of Crete.

This new Libyan provocation follows the formation of a committee by the Libyan parliament to examine the validity of the invalid and illegal Turkish-Libyan Memorandum and is substantial proof of the alignment of Tripoli and Benghazi with those who are working on revisionist plans in the Eastern Mediterranean.

This new diplomatic failure is a product of the Mitsotakis government’s foreign policy without a plan, especially at a time when the Foreign Minister is expected to visit Libya. Mr. Gerapetritis should explain to the Greek people what the level of preparation for the visit in question is and why yet another negative development has occurred to the detriment of our national interests.

The government must immediately exert the necessary diplomatic pressure at the bilateral and European level for Libya to comply with international law and to develop a responsible foreign policy with a beginning, middle, and end to stop leading the country from defeat to defeat.”