2023/01/31 | 便利屋Reレンジャー | 未分類
Greece and Egypt maritime agreement: A new era of cooperation and stability in the Eastern Mediterranean
On August 6th, 2020, the foreign ministers of Greece and Egypt signed a bilateral agreement on the delimitation of maritime zones, thus establishing a new legal framework for cooperation in the Eastern Mediterranean. The agreement, which follows similar deals between Israel and Cyprus, and Turkey and Libya, is aimed at boosting economic relations, enhancing security cooperation, and promoting stability in the region.
The maritime zone delimited by the agreement covers an area of approximately 146,000 square kilometers, extending from the Greek island of Crete to the Egyptian coast. The agreement establishes a 200-nautical-mile exclusive economic zone (EEZ) for each country, where they can exploit and explore natural resources, such as oil and gas reserves, without interference from other countries. The agreement also allows for the establishment of a joint mechanism for the management and development of hydrocarbon resources, which could provide a substantial boost to the economies of both countries.
In addition to the economic benefits, the agreement also has significant geopolitical implications. It strengthens the alliance between Greece and Egypt, two pivotal countries in the Eastern Mediterranean, and sends a message of deterrence to Turkey, which has been increasingly assertive in the region, challenging the territorial and maritime claims of Greece and Cyprus. The agreement also aligns the strategic interests of Greece and Egypt with those of France and Israel, two other regional powers that have formed a loose coalition aimed at promoting stability and countering Turkish expansionism.
From an international law perspective, the Greece-Egypt agreement is in line with the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, which allows coastal states to establish EEZs and control the resources within them. It also respects the rights of other neighboring countries, such as Libya, to establish their own maritime boundaries based on international law. However, the agreement is likely to exacerbate the tensions between Greece and Turkey, which have been at odds for decades over a range of issues, including territorial claims, minority rights, and immigration flows.
In conclusion, the Greece-Egypt maritime agreement is a significant achievement for both countries, as it enhances their economic and security cooperation, and contributes to the stability and prosperity of the Eastern Mediterranean. However, its impact on the regional power balance and the ongoing disputes between Greece and Turkey remains to be seen. As the region faces multiple challenges, including the COVID-19 pandemic and the refugee crisis, it is important for all stakeholders to engage in constructive dialogue and diplomacy, in order to find peaceful and sustainable solutions to their differences.