What's at stake as Libya's eastern parliament approves Turkey maritime deal
Libya's eastern-based parliament's approval of a long-disputed maritime deal with Turkey marks a strategic win for Ankara as Saddam Hifter seeks Turkish backing for his presidential ambitions, according to analysts.
ANKARA — The approval of a long-disputed maritime deal with Turkey by Libya's eastern-based parliament marks a major geopolitical victory for Ankara, while also reflecting efforts by Saddam Hifter, the deputy commander of Libya's eastern-based armed forces, to secure Turkish backing for his presidential ambitions, analysts say.
The vote, held on Tuesday, saw lawmakers unanimously approve the agreement Turkey signed with Libya's Tripoli-based government in 2019.
“The House of Representatives voted unanimously to adopt the Memorandum of Understanding signed between the Government of National Accord and the Government of the Republic of Turkey regarding the delimitation of maritime jurisdiction areas in the Mediterranean Sea,” Abdullah Bliheg, spokesperson for Libya's House of Representatives, wrote on X.
Libya remains divided between the government in Tripoli and a rival eastern administration under the de facto control of Khalifa Hifter, commander of the eastern-based Libyan National Army. The agreement, struck between Turkey and Libya's then-UN-recognized Government of National Accord, was initially rejected by its eastern rivals. In 2020, Libya's eastern-based House of Representatives passed a resolution rejecting the agreement as well as severing all ties with Ankara.
