Key facts
- Egypt, Bahrain and UAE joined Greece in condemning the Turkey-Libya maritime accord.
- The accord, approved by Libya's eastern parliament, was originally agreed in 2019.
- The joint statement was delivered at the UN on Monday.
- The accord is seen as a threat to regional security and international legal order.
ATHENS, Oct 27 (Reuters) - Egypt, Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates have aligned with Greece to denounce a Turkey-Libya maritime accord, calling it a threat to regional security and international law. The deal, approved by Libya's eastern parliament last week, was originally agreed in 2019 and has drawn condemnation from Greece and Cyprus for infringing on their maritime claims.
In a joint statement delivered at the United Nations on Monday, Greece and the three Arab nations stated the accord raised "serious concerns for regional security and stability" and could set a precedent for "arbitrary bilateral arrangements" that undermine international law. Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan defended the agreement, stating that reactions from the EU and others lacked legitimate basis.
The Arab support for Greece aims to broaden the dispute into a regional push for maritime rule adherence, increasing diplomatic pressure on Turkey and Libya over maritime zones and future energy projects in the Mediterranean.