A report from the Greek newspaper “Kathimerini” reveals that the Libyan Government of National Unity (GNU) has protested against Greece’s alleged illegal exploration activities south of Crete in areas considered Libyan territory.
According to the report, the protest was conveyed through a letter sent to the Greek ambassador in Tripoli, Nikos Garilidis, just before the meeting between Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in Ankara. This timing has sparked speculation about possible Turkish involvement in the matter.
Greek sources informed “Kathimerini” that the embassy received a verbal note regarding the exploration conducted south of Crete, indicating that the Greek Ministry of Foreign Affairs will issue an appropriate response in the coming days.
The sources emphasized that Athens’ response will primarily be to record its reaction, without acknowledging any validity to Libya’s claims.
The Libyan protest relates to seismic surveys conducted by the Norwegian vessel “Ramform Hyperion” a few weeks ago. The Government of National Unity questions the boundaries of the territorial waters used by Greece in the maritime areas west and southwest of Crete.
In 2022, Turkey’s former Foreign Minister, Mevlut Cavusoglu said that Ankara, along with the Tripoli-based government in Libya, were together protesting against seismic surveys and drilling that Greece was due to carry out, south of Crete, according to Greece’s Ekathimerini newspaper.
The Libyan Foreign Ministry at the time denounced Greece’s “irresponsible acts” in the Mediterranean. The Libyan Foreign Ministry claimed that Athens had contracted with some international companies to conduct gas and oil exploration in the disputed Libyan-Greek maritime borders, specifically to the south and southwest of Crete.
The Foreign Ministry stated that “it will continue to defend Libya’s maritime borders, with all possible legal and diplomatic means.”
“Greece is working hard to exploit the Libyan crisis and impose a fait accompli in defining the Libyan-Greek maritime borders,” the statement said.
Tensions rose after Libya and Turkey signed a series of economic agreements, that included potential energy exploration in maritime areas.
