Historic agreement ends Cyprus, Lebanon maritime demarcation limbo

Lebanon and Cyprus have formally signed a historic maritime boundary demarcation agreement, ending nearly 20 years of political deadlock that had stalled offshore oil and gas exploration in the eastern Mediterranean.

The deal was finalized on November 26 at the Baabda presidential palace near Beirut and announced during a joint press conference held by Lebanese President Joseph Aoun and Cypriot President Nikos Christodoulides, as reported by Euractiv.

Lebanon and Cyprus had first reached a preliminary deal mapping out their offshore zones in 2007, but ratification stalled for years in the Lebanese parliament due to internal political divisions and broader regional disputes over maritime boundaries. Further complications arose as Lebanon focused on other unresolved borders, including with Israel — a delineation that was ultimately completed only in 2022 under a US-brokered agreement.

At the press conference, Aoun said the new deal with the EU-member would allow both countries to move forward with offshore resource exploration and deepen bilateral cooperation. He also pointed to the potential for future joint initiatives across sectors such as telecommunications, tourism, and security.

Christodoulides hailed the agreement as a "strategic achievement," stressing that it would unlock new opportunities and strengthen regional energy cooperation.

"This historic maritime boundary agreement enhances prospects for positioning the Middle East as an alternative energy corridor to Europe," he said.

He further welcomed progress on ongoing talks regarding an electricity interconnection project linking the two countries and announced plans to seek World Bank support for a feasibility study.

Lebanon views offshore hydrocarbons as critical to its future economic recovery. Beirut hopes that potential gas and oil discoveries could generate state revenues and stimulate economic activity, offering a path to reversing the financial collapse that began in 2019 and exacerbated the country’s chronic electricity shortages.

The formal demarcation with Cyprus leaves Syria as the only remaining neighbor with whom Lebanon has yet to finalize a maritime boundary.

The agreement also strengthens efforts by both countries to clarify exclusive economic zone rights in the eastern Mediterranean, a region increasingly important for offshore energy exploration. After years of delays driven by political fragmentation and overlapping regional claims, renewed diplomacy has enabled Lebanon and Cyprus to establish a mutually recognized demarcation line.

By Nazrin Sadigova