The Greek government is preparing a field-level response to uphold its sovereign rights, following Libya’s recent move—clearly influenced by Turkey—to submit maps to the United Nations that blatantly violate the principles of international law. The latest diplomatic note from the Tripoli government to the UN marks yet another setback in efforts to meaningfully reset Greek–Libyan relations, as Greece does not recognize the Turkey–Libya maritime memorandum as a basis for discussion.

Although Greek officials note privately that what Libya claims on maps matters little if, in practice, it respects the principle of the median line—as was the case in its recent agreement with Turkey’s state oil company—the key priority for the Greek government remains moving forward with its energy exploration plans south of Crete.

The Chevron Factor

The immediate objective is for Chevron to take the next step by participating in the exploration tender, which has a submission deadline of September 12. To that end, Environment and Energy Minister Stavros Papastavrou held a phone call on Tuesday with Liz Schwarze, Vice President of Chevron, who reportedly reaffirmed the company’s expressed intent to take part.

Chevron already operates in Cyprus’s Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), indicating that while it does factor in geopolitical risks, it also acts decisively where it sees strong economic potential.

Asserting Sovereignty Without Fanfare

At the same time, the Greek government is pushing back against criticism of being too passive—criticism that comes from across the political spectrum. Sources from Maximos Mansion (the Prime Minister’s office) state:

“For six years now, this government has exercised Greece’s sovereign rights through actions—without fanfare, without fake patriotic grandstanding—despite those trying to build a false narrative.”

They emphasize Greece’s strengthened diplomatic presence in recent years, evidenced by:

• Maritime spatial planning
• EEZ agreements with Egypt and Italy
• Successful deterrence of hybrid migration threats

Government spokesperson Pavlos Marinakis reiterated this approach on Wednesday, saying:

“We will not weigh our national interest based on who might be offended. We will defend our national interest, exercise our sovereign rights, and pursue a sovereignty-based policy—always grounded in international law.”

Geopolitically Strategic Marine Parks

By the end of July, the government is also expected to announce the establishment of two marine parks in the Southern Aegean and Ionian Sea. While designed around environmental criteria, these zones carry clear geopolitical significance, particularly given the preemptive negative reactions they triggered during the recent UN Ocean Conference in Nice, France.

In summary, Greece is strategically responding to Libya’s provocations not just through diplomatic rebuttals, but by reinforcing its energy and maritime plans—with Chevron’s involvement and upcoming marine zoning decisions playing key roles in asserting sovereignty through action, not rhetoric.