Greek Foreign Minister Giorgos Gerapetritis arrived in the Libyan capital Tripoli on Tuesday for a high-level official visit aimed at strengthening bilateral relations. He was welcomed by Libya’s acting Foreign Minister, Al-Taher Al-Baour, before holding talks with Prime Minister Abdelhamid Dbaiba at the cabinet office.
According to a statement from the Libyan Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the visit comes within the framework of reinforcing friendship and cooperation between Libya and Greece, and to discuss a range of bilateral issues.
During the meeting with Prime Minister Dbaiba, both sides explored ways to deepen cooperation, particularly in economic and service sectors. Discussions also included reopening Greek airspace to Libyan aviation and resuming direct flights between the two countries — a step seen as significant for restoring connectivity and boosting trade and tourism.
The two delegations emphasised the importance of maintaining direct dialogue, respecting national sovereignty, and upholding good neighbourly relations. They reaffirmed their commitment to serve the shared interests of both nations and their peoples.
The visit takes place amid ongoing tensions over maritime boundaries in the Eastern Mediterranean. Libya and Greece have long-standing disputes over Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) delimitation, particularly following the controversial 2019 maritime agreement between Libya and Turkey, which Athens rejects as illegal under international maritime law.
In recent weeks, Libya submitted a formal protest to the United Nations objecting to Greek energy exploration south and west of Crete. Greece, in turn, has reiterated its sovereign rights in the area and expressed readiness for bilateral negotiations based on international law, notably the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).
Gerapetritis’ visit signals a potential diplomatic opening to address these complex issues through direct dialogue and mutual understanding.
