Mediterranean Powder Keg – Turkey Wins Libya Oil Rights as Eastern Parliament Prepares Explosive Vote
Libya’s eastern-based parliament is poised to approve a controversial 2019 maritime pact that would allow Turkey to explore for oil and gas in Libyan waters, marking a dramatic shift in regional alliances and potentially inflaming tensions in the eastern Mediterranean.
Sources familiar with the talks in Benghazi and Ankara confirm that most obstacles to the accord have been cleared, representing a striking reversal for the east, which has long been aligned with commander Khalifa Haftar’s Libyan National Army and historically opposed to Turkish involvement. If ratified, Turkish survey and drilling vessels could begin operations in a corridor between Turkey and Crete, bolstering Ankara’s territorial claims and likely aggravating existing disputes with Greece and Cyprus. The pending vote follows a cautious détente between Turkey and Haftar, including a Turkish navy corvette visit to Benghazi and discussions of military training support.
The maritime agreement comes as Libya’s energy sector regains momentum, with the National Oil Corporation reporting over 1.38 million barrels of crude produced daily, plus approximately 50,000 barrels per day of condensate and 2.48 billion cubic feet of natural gas. Libya launched its first field tenders in 17 years in March, drawing over 400 bids across 22 blocks.
Eastern authorities increasingly view the accord as a pathway to attract investment, while Turkey seeks to revive billions of dollars in stalled construction contracts and has already restarted direct flights to Benghazi.
Source: OilPrice.com
