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Turkey is not a signatory to the 1982 UNITED Nations Convention on the Regulation of Maritime Borders and does not recognise the Southern Republic of Cyprus and its exclusive economic zone agreements with Egypt, Lebanon and Israel. On 27 November, a bilateral memorandum on maritime justice and security and military cooperation between Turkey and the Libyan Unity Government (GNA) was signed. The maritime transport agreement between Turkey and Libya was largely a response to the Eastern Mediterranean Forum, which was launched in 2019 with seven member states, of which Turkey is not a member. To ensure its interest in the region, Ankara duly concluded the agreement with the Libyan GNA on November 27 last year; it was ratified by the Turkish Parliament on 5 December. Ankara then submitted the agreement to the United Nations for registration in order to protect its rights from unilateral and illegal activities by other countries in the region and international companies. In Libya, the signing of the memorandum provoked different reactions: it was welcomed by supporters of the government of national unity, but rejected by supporters of Khalifa Haftar and the Tobruk-based House of Parliament. Ahmad Al Mismari, the official spokesman for Haftar`s armed forces, rejected the deal, warning that “military force will be used to prevent any violation of Libyan sovereignty.” [11] Members of Tobruk`s parliament expressed similar sentiments while its president, Aguila Saleh Issa, sent a letter to UN Secretary-General António Guterres, calling the agreement “null and void.” Saleh argued that the agreement should be ratified by the Tobruk parliament and that “Libya and Turkey have no common maritime borders.” [12] The Vice-President of the European Commission, Josep Borrell, said that the agreement signed by Turkey and Libya constitutes a violation for third countries and is not in line with the law of the sea. [13] The President of the Republic of Cyprus, Nicos Anastasiades, wanted to create a diplomatic movement to abrogate the Libyan-Turkish agreement. He also said that this move would not include military options. [14] Greece filed an objection with the United Nations and ousted the Libyan ambassador in response to the deal, angry at a pact that bypasses the Greek island of Crete and violates its continental shelf. [15] The High Representative himself has already expressed concern about this agreement as well as solidarity and support for Greece and Cyprus. .