Greek Foreign Minister George Gerapetritis visited Libya on Tuesday, aiming to revive stalled dialogue on maritime borders and irregular migration.
In Tripoli, Gerapetritis met Libyan Prime Minister Abdul Hamid Dbeibeh, framing the visit as a message of “peace, friendship, and good neighborly relations.”
He emphasised that shared geography and history outweigh divisions, voicing hope for a new chapter in Greek-Libyan relations.
“Greece can and should be Libya’s voice in Europe and the world,” Gerapetritis said, underscoring Athens’ intent to strengthen diplomatic ties.
Talks with Libyan Foreign Minister Taher Al-Baour focused on resuming maritime border negotiations suspended more than a decade ago.
Gerapetritis reaffirmed Greece’s rejection of the 2019 Turkish-Libyan maritime deal, which grants Ankara exploration rights near Crete.
Greek broadcaster ERT noted that while Athens acknowledges Turkey’s influence over Tripoli, it views the current political climate as ripe for engagement.
With reports that eastern Libya’s parliament is preparing to ratify the Turkish-Libyan agreement, Gerapetritis also travelled to Benghazi.
There, he met Khalifa Haftar, commander of the eastern-based Libyan National Army, in a bid to balance dialogue with both sides.
The diplomatic push comes amid rising tensions, after Libya accused Greece at the UN of violating its rights by leasing offshore blocks to ExxonMobil.
The contested area, located southwest of Crete, overlaps with zones claimed under the Turkish-Libyan maritime accord.
Greece maintains that any maritime agreement with Libya should be based on international law and mutual consent.
Gerapetritis’s visit signals a renewed Greek effort to assert its regional role and counterbalance Turkish influence in North Africa.