On 19 June, the Government of National Stability (GNS) Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) strongly objected to Greece’s recent move to open an international tender for oil and gas exploration in Mediterranean waters south of Crete, an area both nations claim as their own. In a statement, the GNS criticized the decision as a ‘blatant violation’ of Libya’s sovereign rights, citing unresolved maritime boundaries between the two countries. It expressed concern that such ‘unilateral actions’ could escalate regional tensions and called for disputes to be settled through legal dialogue and mutual respect.
The GNS emphasized its commitment to cooperation in the Mediterranean and urged Greece to prioritize negotiation over provocation. It reaffirmed its sovereign right to explore and develop natural resources within its internationally recognized maritime territories and referenced the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) as the legal basis for these claims. The GNS also warned that any exploration activities carried out in contested zones or Libyan-controlled waters without prior authorization would be viewed as a violation of international law and an act of aggression.
Later that day, the Government of National Unity (GNU) Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) also issued a statement asserting that some of the offshore blocks near Crete lie within contested maritime zones, considering this as ‘a clear violation of Libya’s sovereign rights.’ The GNU strongly opposed any exploration or drilling in those areas without a prior legal agreement in line with international law, urging Greek authorities to examine the depth of the historical relations between the two countries and to prioritize dialogue and diplomatic negotiations that safeguard the interests of all parties involved.
On 21 June, during the third regular GNS cabinet meeting of this year held in Derna, GNS PM Osama Hammad confirmed that he had submitted the 2019 maritime border MoU between Libya and Turkey to the HoR for review and ratification. He emphasized that this move is aimed at reinforcing Libya’s sovereign rights in its Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), consistent with the 1982 UNCLOS. A technical committee has also been formed under Cabinet Resolution No. 122 (2025) to reassess Libya’s maritime boundaries in the Mediterranean and review all maritime agreements signed since 2002, with an emphasis on international law, good neighbourly relations, and maintaining diplomatic relations, particularly with Egypt.
Hammad strongly criticized Greece’s 12 June call for international tenders to explore hydrocarbons south of Crete, claiming part of the area overlaps Libya’s EEZ. He called the move a clear violation of Libya’s sovereign rights and warned that Libya may invite international firms to operate in the disputed areas if Greece continues its unilateral actions.
On 22 June, the GNS MFA formally summoned the Greek Consul General in Benghazi, Agapios Kalognoumis, to deliver a memorandum of protest in response to Greece’s announcement of opening bids for hydrocarbon exploration in maritime areas south of Crete. In the memorandum any unilateral actions that could undermine Libya’s sovereignty are firmly rejected. It emphasized the importance of resuming dialogue and pursuing negotiations in line with international law and the principles of good neighbourliness. The Ministry also called on the Greek authorities to promptly clarify the motives behind these provocative measures.
On 23 June, the GNU MFA summoned the Greek Ambassador to protest Greece’s actions in disputed maritime zones. The Ministry accused Greece of violating international maritime law and infringing on Libya’s sovereignty, and stated it is taking diplomatic measures to defend its legal rights.