Eastern Libya's parliament approves 2019 maritime deal with Turkey and lifts 2020 boycott of Ankara

Summary

Libya's eastern House of Representatives in Benghazi approved a maritime delimitation agreement with Turkey on Tuesday, October 20, 2026, and revoked its 2020 decision to cut political ties with Ankara, according to a statement on its website. The deal was signed in 2019 by Turkey and Libya's internationally recognised government in Tripoli to counter Greek and Cypriot claims in the region, but it had awaited formal approval for years while Libya remained divided. Greece swiftly condemned the approval as a violation of international law. Two lawmakers told Reuters that the deal will bring strategic advantages in economic, political and national security affairs. Middle East Eye reports that the vote came the same day as the reported visit to Tripoli of Turkish intelligence chief Ibrahim Kalin, which sources described as no coincidence, and that Greece had reportedly pressed Khalifa Haftar not to approve the deal.

Timeline

1. The Straits Times

   20 Oct 2026, 12:46 UTCSource ↗

   Reports that Libya's eastern parliament approved a maritime deal with Turkey on Tuesday, which two lawmakers told Reuters will bring strategic advantages, and that it overturned a 2020 move to cut political ties with Ankara.

2. Middle East Eye

   20 Oct 2026, 14:49 UTCSource ↗

   Reports that the eastern parliament approved the maritime delimitation agreement with Turkey on Tuesday and revoked its 2020 boycott of Ankara, with sources calling the timing, the same day as Turkish intelligence chief Ibrahim Kalin's reported Tripoli visit, no coincidence.

3. Al Jazeera

   20 Oct 2026, 15:19 UTCSource ↗

   Reports that the vote recognises Ankara's 2019 maritime deal with Tripoli and ends Haftar's 2020 boycott.