A storm in the Mediterranean

Last week, Greek and Egypt reached an agreement after 13 rounds of negotiations over 15 years, establishing an exclusive economic zone for oil and gas right. This agreement counters growing Turkish influence in the region as it prepares to issue oil exploration licenses that have been opposed by Greece, the European Union, and the USA.

The agreement effectively expands and consolidates both countries’ rights to drill and explore untapped reserves in the hundreds of miles of sea that divides them. Both countries claim that the deal eclipses the controversial maritime agreement that Turkey recently signed with the Libyan GNA government, which allows Turkey to drill for gas and oil in the same region, including within Greek waters.

France is backing Egypt and Greece, and the LNA faction in Libya (armed and supported by Egypt, UAE, and Russia) and Turkish and French navies nearly clashed last month in the Mediterranean. Meanwhile, the U.S. supports the Turkey-backed GNA government in Libya.