An Egyptian official confirmed that Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty raised the issue in a phone call with U.S. Africa adviser Massad Boulos. Cairo reportedly requested that Washington use its influence to discourage Haftar from endorsing the 2019 maritime pact. Boulos allegedly promised to reach out to Haftar to discuss the matter.

The agreement—originally signed by Libya’s western, Tripoli-based government aligned with Türkiye—grants Ankara extensive maritime rights. Cairo, alongside Athens, has strongly opposed it, fearing it infringes on their Exclusive Economic Zones (EEZs).

Shifting Alliances in Libya

Haftar’s eastern parliament, long resistant to the Türkiye deal, now appears closer to ratifying it despite lobbying efforts by Greece and Egypt. Haftar has recently fostered closer ties with Ankara, evidenced by military visits to Türkiye and his son Saddam Haftar’s growing engagement with Turkish and Qatari officials.

Egypt views these developments with alarm, especially given its strategic interests in Libya and its shared 1,115km border with the country’s east. Cairo is particularly wary of Turkish activities in contested waters, notably after Tripoli’s National Oil Company signed a deal with Türkiye’s TPAO to explore oil in disputed maritime blocs.

Regional Repercussions

Greek Foreign Minister George Gerapetritis is expected to visit Libya this week to further oppose the deal. Meanwhile, Haftar’s ties with the Trump administration, including prior meetings with U.S. officials and frozen funds negotiations, add another layer to Washington’s influence over the situation.

While there has been no major military escalation in Libya recently, the growing fluidity in regional alliances and unresolved maritime disputes continue to threaten stability in the Eastern Mediterranean.