Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has welcomed Libya’s eastern-based House of Representatives’ approval of a maritime jurisdiction agreement with Türkiye, calling the decision important.

“I hope this important decision will be beneficial,” Erdogan said on Wednesday during a parliamentary group meeting of his Justice and Development (AK) Party in Ankara.

Libya’s House of Representatives unanimously approved on Tuesday a memorandum of understanding signed on November 27, 2019, by Türkiye and Libya’s then internationally recognised Government of National Accord, delimiting their respective maritime jurisdiction areas in the Mediterranean.

The agreement established a maritime boundary based on Ankara’s interpretation of international maritime law.

Türkiye maintains that its extensive Mediterranean coastline entitles it to maritime jurisdiction areas that should not be disproportionately restricted by Greek islands located close to the Turkish mainland.

The deal has been a significant element of Ankara’s regional maritime policy and its relationship with Libya, where political divisions have shaped foreign policy decisions for years.

Libya's House of Representatives also repealed a 2020 resolution rejecting the ratification of agreements signed with Türkiye, reversing its previous opposition to the maritime deal.

Defence cooperation with Saudi Arabia and Pakistan

Erdogan also said a joint defence agreement signed by Türkiye, Saudi Arabia and Pakistan had been submitted to the Turkish parliament for ratification.

“We have submitted the joint defence agreement we signed with Pakistan and Saudi Arabia to our parliament for ratification,” he said.