Earlier this week, Lebanon and Cyprus signed a long-awaited maritime border agreement on Wednesday. Lebanese President Joseph Aoun met with his Cypriot counterpart Nikos Christodoulides and signed the agreement at the Baabda presidential palace.
The initial deal was first inked in 2007, signed by Cyprus in 2009, but abstained upon by Lebanon, representing around 18 years of impasse for its finalization. The original deal was planned around six equidistant coordinates based on the median-line methodology.
Lebanese concerns included safeguarding guarantees against Israeli breaches, particularly at southern points. Cyprus and Israel, on their part, signed a maritime delineation agreement in 2010.
The Lebanese cabinet endorsed the agreement last month, which was followed by a visit by Energy Minister Joe Saddi to Cyprus to discuss energy-related cooperation. The agreement formalizes Lebanon’s claim over its Exclusive Economic Zone on the eastern Mediterranean.
The agreement was criticized by analysts, who suggest that the deal bypassed parliamentary ratifications, while some Members of Parliament are saying that it could deprive the country several thousands square kilometers of potential maritime wealth.
Both parties stated that the agreement is based on the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) and relevant international law principles.
As Lebanon delineated maritime borders with Israel in 2022, Syria remains the final country with which Lebanon has not delineated maritime borders.
Lebanese, Cypriot, Turkish, and International Reactions
In a joint press conference, Christodoulides described the agreement as “historic”, while Aoun mentioned that this agreement is a sign for other states that Lebanon is open to cooperate. Analysis suggests that Aoun’s statement is an apparent reference to Damascus.
Both presidents said that the agreement signals the deepening of cooperation between Lebanon, Cyprus, and the broader European Union.
Analysis suggests that the agreement could pave the way for more elaborate offshore exploration on the Lebanese front, potentially generating resources in the midst of a continued multifaceted crisis, while Cyprus is set to benefit from the fact that European countries are potentially aiming to reduce reliance on importing gas from Russia.
For Cyprus, the agreement follows maritime agreements concluded with Egypt (2003) and Israel, with officials stating that it strengthens the country’s role as a regional energy powerhouse.
Moving forward, the two countries are expected to undertake a number of bilateral agreements, be it in energy or other sectors.
Turkish ministries and the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) – recognized by Türkiye – criticized the deal between Lebanon and Cyprus, saying that it ignores the rights of Turkish Cypriots and goes beyond the authority of the Greek Cypriot side.
The Turkish Ministry of National Defense stated that the agreement disregards the TRNC’s rights and violates the interests of the Lebanese people, stating readiness to cooperate with Lebanese counterparts on maritime issues.
“We call upon the international community, in particular the regional countries, not to back these unilateral actions of the Greek Cypriot Administration and not to lend support to attempts to usurp the legitimate rights and interests of the Turkish Cypriots, who are sovereign equals on the land,” the statement added.
