Turkey will begin oil and gas exploration and production studies in the Eastern Mediterranean soon after signing a memorandum of understanding with Libya last week, the energy minister announced yesterday.

The Libyan Presidential Council has endorsed the MoUs in security and maritime cooperation with Turkey. 

The Libyan High Council of State said Tuesday the memorandum on maritime boundaries in the eastern Mediterranean Sea is important to secure Libya’s natural resources.

A memorandum on maritime boundaries in the eastern Mediterranean Sea is important to secure Libya’s natural resources, the country’s High Council of State said Tuesday.

The internationally recognised Libyan Government of National Accord (GNA) has condemned air strikes launched by forces loyal to retired Major General Khalifa Haftar on the capital Tripoli saying they are “tantamount to war crimes”.

Greece’s foreign minister on Monday threatened to expel the Libyan ambassador to Athens unless provided with details of a military deal that Tripoli signed with Ankara last week.

Ahead of this week’s NATO summit in London, fresh developments in the eastern Mediterranean Sea will likely add to a long list of tensions between Turkey and allied nations as the bloc celebrates its 70th anniversary.

Greece will seek support from NATO at an alliance summit in London this week following a military deal signed by Turkey and Libya’s UN-recognised government, Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis said on Sunday.

The US ambassador to Libya Richard Norland has briefed the UN envoy to Libya Ghassan Salame on the results of his latest meetings with Libyan parties.

Egypt, Cyprus and Greece announced, Tuesday that the two security cooperation and maritime MoUs signed by Turkey and Libya’s UN-backed government, “has no legal effect”.