Turkey will soon launch seismic surveys in Libya’s territorial waters as part of its expanded offshore energy exploration strategy, the country’s Energy and Natural Resources Minister Alparslan Bayraktar told Sky News Arabia.
Bayraktar said the move is in line with Ankara’s policy of seeking energy opportunities abroad, noting that Turkish survey and drilling vessels will also operate in Somalia’s territorial waters to begin oil and gas exploration there.
The decision to enter Libyan waters comes against the backdrop of long-standing maritime disputes in the eastern Mediterranean involving Libya, Turkey, and Greece. These tensions escalated after a 2019 maritime boundary agreement between Ankara and Libya’s Tripoli-based Government of National Accord, which Athens condemned as violating its sovereign rights.
Greece argues that the accord disregards its island territories and contravenes international maritime law, while Turkey maintains it is legitimate and protects both nations’ economic interests. The disagreement has led to overlapping claims over exclusive economic zones and drilling rights in waters believed to contain significant hydrocarbon reserves.
Turkey’s presence in Libya’s maritime zones has been further complicated by broader geopolitical rivalries in the Mediterranean, with several EU countries backing Greece’s position. Despite periodic talks, the dispute remains unresolved, raising the risk of diplomatic or naval confrontations.
Bayraktar’s announcement signals Ankara’s intention to press ahead with energy projects in contested areas, potentially adding a new layer of complexity to the already fraught relations between the three countries.
Analysts say the move could strengthen Turkey’s influence in North Africa and the Mediterranean but may also trigger renewed opposition from Athens and its European allies.
