Libyan activist Marwan Al-Durqash, known for his close ties to the dismissed grand mufti Al-Sadiq Al-Ghiryani, has warned that Turkey may ultimately rely on military force to enforce its contested 2020 maritime agreement with Libya if political and institutional obstacles continue to block its implementation.
In an interview on the pro-Muslim Brotherhood Al-Tanasuh channel, Al-Durqash said the agreement, signed between Turkey and the former Tripoli-based Government of National Accord (GNA), has not yet been ratified by Libya’s House of Representatives.
He argued that the delay reflects the deep political divisions in Libya as well as the broader regional power struggle over maritime boundaries and energy exploration rights in the Eastern Mediterranean.
“Turkey could find itself compelled to impose the agreement militarily through its presence in the region,” Al-Durqash claimed, adding that if Ankara asserts control, it could significantly alter the balance of power in the Mediterranean.
He stressed that Libya’s fractured political landscape has prevented the country from developing a unified national position on vital issues, including maritime sovereignty and access to offshore oil and gas reserves. This disunity, he warned, has left Libya weak and exposed in international negotiations.
According to Al-Durqash, the country’s internal disputes are being closely watched by foreign powers, many of whom are increasingly drawn to Libya’s economic and energy conflicts. He argued that such divisions undermine Libya’s bargaining power and leave it at risk of having its interests dictated by outside actors.
The Libya-Turkey maritime deal, signed in 2020, has been fiercely opposed by Greece, Egypt, and other regional rivals, who argue it infringes on their territorial waters. It remains one of the most contentious issues in the Eastern Mediterranean, where competition over energy resources has fueled escalating tensions.
