On 13 October, the Greek newspaper Protothema revealed that Libya sent a diplomatic note to Greece on 24 August, sharply protesting the announced hydrocarbon exploration in areas south of Crete.
In the diplomatic note, Libya raised official objections to ongoing survey and exploration activities carried out in undelimited maritime zones, as well as to the territorial expansion of these areas. Furthermore, Tripoli expressed concern over Athens’ international call for bids – published in the Official Journal of the European Union on 17 August 2026 – which authorizes the Hellenic Hydrocarbons and Energy Resources Management Company (HEREMA) to license seismic surveys across offshore blocks south of Crete, the Peloponnese, and the Ionian Sea. According to the note “these actions constitute an explicit violation and infringement of the Libyan continental shelf, as officially announced and registered with the United Nations on 27 May 2025.”
Referring to the preparations of America’s Chevron to begin exploration in blocks south of Greece, the note warned that continuing the work or similar actions “could negatively affect the course of bilateral negotiations between the two countries”. The continuation of these violations could potentially even lead to their suspension, “given that both sides have agreed to refrain from provocative actions that would affect the progress and continuation of the negotiations.”