A new dispute over maritime borders is emerging in the central Mediterranean, with Tunisia, Italy, and Greece converging in their opposition to certain Libyan maritime claims. According to a report by Italian daily Il Sole 24 Ore, the three countries are contesting Libyan claims, driven by energy interests and tensions also involving Turkey. This is not a new Tunisian protest, as the country's position was officially transmitted to the UN in April.
The Tunisian government's concerns stem from new delimitations defended by Tripoli. On May 27, 2025, Libya submitted a declaration and a map to the UN regarding the outer limits of its continental shelf. Tunisia responded officially on April 19, 2026, disputing the Libyan demarcation between points 30 and 32. Tunisia relies on a 1982 International Court of Justice ruling and a 1988 bilateral agreement to support its claims.
The point of contention for Tunisia lies in the unilaterally defined point 30 by Tripoli, which does not correspond to the extremity of the delimitation line. The International Court of Justice has previously stated that the prolongation towards the northeast will depend on a delimitation to be agreed upon with third-party states. A first Tunisian protest was already submitted to the UN in January 2025 regarding Libya's declared contiguous zone of 12 miles.
The recent development comes primarily from Rome, which deposited new coordinates of its maritime baseline with the UN on September 24. This update replaces those recorded in 1996 and stems from a modification in Italian legislation. However, Italy itself is in disagreement with Tripoli over certain claims regarding the continental shelf. In May, Italy objected to Libya, arguing that certain segments of the demarcation claimed by Tripoli affected its rights and interests.
The Italian daily Il Sole 24 Ore mentions an "alliance" between Italy, Tunisia, and Greece in the face of Libyan claims. While official documents show a convergence of their disputes, each concerns a distinct maritime segment, without revealing a formal alliance between the three countries.
Greece is disputing certain Libyan claims south of Crete, directly related to a 2019 maritime memorandum signed between Ankara and Tripoli, which Athens rejects. Greece argues that the memorandum does not respect the maritime rights generated by Greek islands. The issue has escalated with gas exploration south and southwest of Crete, where several areas are being explored.
The contestations by Tunisia, Italy, and Greece have brought the maritime disputes in the central Mediterranean to the forefront. The countries' concerns over energy interests and territorial rights are driving the tensions, which also involve Turkey. The situation remains complex, with the three countries challenging Libyan maritime claims at the UN.
Key points
- Tunisia, Italy, and Greece are contesting Libyan maritime claims at the UN.
- The disputes center on energy interests and territorial rights in the central Mediterranean.
- The tensions also involve Turkey, which has signed a maritime memorandum with Libya.
