Why Greece's alliances failed to prevent eastern Libya's maritime deal with Turkey

Key Points:

• Libya’s eastern parliament ratified a maritime agreement with Turkey, solidifying Turkey’s claims over the Eastern Mediterranean and marking a rare consensus in fractured Libya despite opposition efforts by Greece and its allies.
• Greece sought to rally regional partners Egypt, Israel, and the UAE to block the deal, but shifting Middle Eastern alliances and priorities amid regional conflicts and a reduced US presence undermined these efforts.
• Egypt and Turkey have recently improved relations, cooperating on several regional issues, while Gulf states like the UAE are recalibrating their security partnerships, complicating Greece’s strategy to counter Turkey.
• Greece’s alliance with Israel, including a major arms deal, and its ties to Egypt and the UAE have been insufficient to prevent Turkey’s growing influence in Libya and the Eastern Mediterranean.
• The evolving geopolitical landscape, including US disengagement and regional rivalries, has allowed Turkey to expand its regional power, challenging traditional alliances and leaving Greece diplomatically isolated in its efforts to contain Turkey.