Turkey Proposes Maritime Border Deal to Egypt Amid Regional Tensions

Turkey has proposed that Egypt sign a maritime border delimitation agreement in the eastern Mediterranean, claiming it would grant Cairo approximately 15,000 square kilometers more than a deal with Greece would provide. The initiative follows the ratification of the Turkey-Libya maritime agreement by the Libyan parliament, a move that has drawn Egyptian opposition alongside Greek and Cypriot condemnation. The European Union reiterated recently that the agreement remains illegal.

Turkish Defense Minister Yasar Guler presented the proposal in an interview with Star TV. According to the Turkish newspaper Aydinlik, Guler stated that Ankara is prepared to sign a maritime jurisdiction area delimitation agreement with Egypt as well. He asserted that the proposed arrangement would be significantly more advantageous to Egypt than the Greek alternative. Analysts note that the figure regarding the additional maritime area is a Turkish estimate and has not been agreed upon by both governments.

The Egyptian website Ahl also reported on the proposal, noting that the announcement lacks final details concerning the proposed boundary route, negotiation mechanisms, or a timetable for signing. The public statement does not yet indicate a developing accord or an Egyptian agreement to launch negotiations based on the Turkish proposal. The outlet linked the diplomatic move to the strategic importance of oil and gas reserves in the region and ongoing disputes over resource exploitation rights.

Simultaneously, according to Aydinlik, Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan proposed holding quadrilateral discussions involving Turkey, Egypt, Libya, and Italy regarding maritime delimitation issues. Fidan stated that he conveyed the proposal to his Egyptian counterpart, Badr Abdelatty, and that President Recep Tayyip Erdogan supports this diplomatic approach.

Cairo continues to harbor reservations regarding the Turkey-Libya memorandum. Reporting on a foreign ministers meeting in Istanbul, the Al-Ghad network noted that Abdelatty reiterated Egypt's opposition to the ratification. According to an Egyptian Foreign Ministry statement, he emphasized the necessity of respecting the law of the sea and the 1982 United Nations Convention, in accordance with principles of justice and fairness between nations. Fidan expressed understanding for Egyptian concerns and underscored the continuing importance of consultation and coordination.

The backdrop to these diplomatic maneuvers is a memorandum signed in 2019 between Ankara and the Tripoli government under Fayez al-Sarraj. The eastern Libyan parliament, which had opposed the agreement for years, ratified it on October 20. The pact concerns the delimitation of maritime jurisdiction zones amid a broader dispute over hydrocarbon exploration and exploitation rights in the eastern Mediterranean.

The Egyptian newspaper Al-Youm Al-Sabea reported that Cairo views the memorandum as a direct infringement on its rights within its exclusive economic zone and continental shelf, emphasizing that the ratification is non-binding. Egypt also clarified that it reserves the right to defend its rights under international law and to oppose actions contradicting its declared maritime boundaries.

The Broader Context and the "Blue Homeland" Doctrine

The diplomatic outreach toward Libya and Egypt, alongside numerous other Turkish initiatives, forms part of the strategic doctrine known as the "Blue Homeland" (Mavi Vatan). This strategic military doctrine aims to establish Turkey's maritime dominance across the Mediterranean, encompassing military and energy dimensions, to secure national energy independence, economic growth, and regional superpower status. It was first formulated by Turkish Admiral Cem Gurdeniz in 2006.

The Blue Homeland doctrine establishes objectives for Turkish control across two primary circles. The first circle encompasses the three surrounding seas: the Mediterranean, the Aegean, and the Black Sea. The second and broader strategic circle includes the Red Sea, the Caspian Sea, and the Arabian Sea, including the Persian Gulf. Ankara seeks to establish extensive rights across these maritime zones through naval power, energy exploration, and boundary agreements.

In the eastern Mediterranean, this strategy directly clashes with the positions of Greece and Cyprus, particularly regarding island rights within exclusive economic zones and continental shelves. While the agreement with Libya exemplifies this assertive posture, the recent proposal to Egypt is designed to advance recognition of Turkish delimitation concepts by promising Cairo a larger maritime expanse compared to the Greek alternative.