Today’s signing of the agreement delimiting the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) between Cyprus and Lebanon—held at the Presidential Palace in Beirut by Nikos Christodoulides and Josef Aoun—closes a nearly twenty-year-old chapter and at the same time opens a new one for the energy and geopolitical landscape of the Eastern Mediterranean.

The package also includes a decision to advance the study for a Cyprus–Lebanon electricity interconnection, with both countries jointly requesting World Bank funding for a feasibility assessment.

The 2007 Agreement That Never Took Off

The story begins in January 2007, when Cyprus and Lebanon first signed an EEZ delimitation agreement.
It was based on the “median line” principle—equal distances from both coastlines—a long-standing Cypriot approach to maritime boundaries. Despite its signature, Beirut never ratified it.

Internal political pressures, concerns that the agreement could be interpreted as tacit acceptance of a maritime line with Israel, and the generally sensitive nature of borders in the region led to the deal being effectively “frozen.”

The Cyprus–Israel Agreement and Lebanon’s Objections

In 2010, Cyprus proceeded with another delimitation, this time with Israel, again based on the median line.
Lebanon reacted strongly, arguing that the way the Cyprus–Israel line was drawn encroached on maritime zones it considered its own.

The core of the problem, however, was not Cyprus, but the unresolved Lebanon–Israel maritime dispute.

Beirut brought its objections to the United Nations, and for years any prospect of ratifying the Cyprus agreement collapsed under the political weight of that dispute.

The Lebanon–Israel Breakthrough in 2022

The landscape shifted in 2022, when—after intensive U.S. mediation—Lebanon and Israel finally reached an agreement to delimit their maritime boundary.
It was a historic development: although the two remain technically at war, hydrocarbons created stakes too high to leave the issue unresolved.

With that dispute finally settled, the path reopened for Nicosia and Beirut to resume discussions.

Cyprus maintained its commitment to the median-line methodology, as it has with all neighbors who accept the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea—standing in clear contrast to Turkey’s “special circumstances” doctrine designed to curtail island rights.

Beirut Says “Yes”

A pivotal moment came last October, when Lebanon’s Council of Ministers, under new President Joseph Aoun, approved the delimitation of the maritime border with Cyprus, effectively reactivating the long-dormant 2007 agreement in revised form.

This followed months of negotiations in 2025, with technical delegations traveling between Nicosia and Beirut. The process culminated in a revised text that both governments approved in October.

Lebanon’s leadership—motivated by energy needs and investment prospects—finally provided the political will to unlock a deal long trapped by regional and internal balances.

The Turkey Factor

Throughout these years, Ankara repeatedly attempted to block the finalization of the Cyprus–Lebanon agreement. The Turkish government pressured Beirut and accused the deal of “violating Turkish rights,” keeping the issue on hold.

Cypriot officials admit this is why today’s ceremony was kept under a low profile until the last moment, anticipating last-minute Turkish interference.

Indeed, early Turkish reactions already claim the agreement “challenges Ankara’s sovereign rights,” reaffirming Turkey’s refusal to accept bilateral delimitation based on the Law of the Sea—especially when it strengthens Cyprus’ position as a fully recognized state in the region.

What the Agreement Provides—and Why It Matters

The agreement follows the median-line principle, consistent with Cyprus’ earlier deals with Egypt and Israel.

It resolves a nearly twenty-year pending issue and creates the legal foundation for exploration and potential hydrocarbon exploitation in the area, at a time when the EU continues to seek alternatives to Russian energy.

The establishment of technical working groups and the joint request to the World Bank for an electricity interconnection study adds another layer of regional cooperation.
If implemented, the Cyprus–Lebanon link could eventually integrate into wider Eastern Mediterranean–Europe electricity corridors, strengthening Cyprus’s role as a bridge between the EU and the Middle East.

Message of Stability—and a European Dimension

The Cypriot government calls the agreement a “milestone of strategic importance” that enhances Cyprus’ sovereign rights, strengthens regional energy security, and sends a clear message: a small EU member state can successfully conclude agreements with all its neighbors based on international law and mutual respect.

For Lebanon—struggling with deep economic and energy crises—the deal adds a new card for attracting hydrocarbon investment and securing financial support from international institutions.

It also facilitates its relationship with the European Union at a moment when Cyprus is preparing to assume the rotating presidency of the Council in January, positioning Nicosia as a conduit between Brussels and Beirut.

In a region more accustomed to tension than cooperation, the completion—after eighteen years—of the Cyprus–Lebanon EEZ agreement stands out as a rare yet substantial step toward stability and a strong reaffirmation of the Law of the Sea against Turkish threats.