Turkey on Thursday sharply criticized the newly signed maritime border demarcation agreement between Lebanon and Cyprus, calling it "unacceptable" and accusing the Greek Cypriot administration of disregarding the rights of Turkish Cypriots on the island.

Ankara, which does not recognize the Greek Cypriot administration and is the only state that recognizes the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, said the deal "usurps" Turkish Cypriot rights and undermines their legitimate interests.

"It is not possible for us to accept any agreement that disregards the rights of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus," the Turkish Ministry of Defense said during its weekly press briefing.

The Ministry added that overlooking these rights "also constitutes a violation of the interests of the Lebanese people," reaffirming Turkey's readiness to cooperate with Beirut on maritime matters.

Ankara condemns Greek Cypriot 'unilateral steps'

Echoing the Defense Ministry, Turkish Foreign Ministry spokesperson Öncü Keçeli wrote on X that the agreement was "in disregard of the Turkish Cypriots who are sovereign equals on the Island."

He stressed that the Greek Cypriot administration is not the sole representative of the island and "does not have the authority to undertake such steps on behalf of the entire island."

Keçeli urged the international community, especially regional states, not to support what he described as the Greek Cypriot administration’s "unilateral steps," warning against becoming instruments in attempts to "usurp the legitimate rights and interests of Turkish Cypriots."

Statement of the Spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Öncü Keçeli, in Response to a Question Regarding the Exclusive Economic Zone Delimitation Agreement Signed Between Lebanon and the Greek Cypriot Administration of Southern Cyprus https://t.co/yg2B7spvwJ pic.twitter.com/8qvWJCqdj6

— Turkish MFA (@MFATurkiye) November 27, 2025

Lebanon, Cyprus sign landmark EEZ agreement

The agreement was officially signed on Wednesday at the Presidential Palace in Baabda during the visit of Cypriot President Nikos Christodoulides to Beirut. The ceremony was followed by a joint press conference with Lebanese President Joseph Aoun.

Standing beside Christodoulides, Aoun described the signing as a "day of historic significance" for both nations, recalling that Christodoulides' first visit to Lebanon took place the day after his election, "an unmistakable gesture of friendship and depth in our ties."

The agreement finalizes the delineation of the countries’ Exclusive Economic Zones (EEZs), enabling both sides to begin offshore resource exploration and to pursue joint initiatives in energy and maritime development.

Aoun also outlined several areas for expanded cooperation, including renewable energy, telecommunications, tourism, regional security, and the establishment of a joint search‑and‑rescue coordination center.

The island has remained divided since 1974 into a Turkish north and a Greek south. Since the collapse of the last round of UN‑sponsored peace talks in 2017, efforts to resolve the decades‑long dispute have reached a diplomatic deadlock.