TURKEY’S EVOLVING STRATEGY IN THE EASTERN MEDITERRANEAN: TURKEY-LIBYA MARITIME DEAL

This study aims to reveal the importance of the Turkey-Libya Maritime Deal, which was signed between the Republic of Turkey and the Government of National Accord of Libya on 29 November 2019 in order to determine their maritime jurisdiction areas in the Eastern Mediterranean. In this context, this thesis seeks an answer to the question "What is the Significance of Maritime Deal Between Turkey and Libya on Turkey's Eastern Mediterranean Strategy?" For this purpose, the historical events related to the Eastern Mediterranean issue and the reasons behind the transformation of the region into an attraction centre will be examined by first considering the conceptual framework in this study. Secondly, the strategic importance of the Eastern Mediterranean for Turkey and Turkey's Eastern Mediterranean policy will be shed light on. In this sense, the most important of the international law decisions and precedent cases that Turkey has presented to the international public in order to support its theses will be discussed. Finally, the Turkey-Libya Maritime Deal signed between Turkey and Libya on the determination of maritime jurisdiction areas in the Eastern Mediterranean will be examined in detail from the beginning to the most recent developments. As a result, in the study, the importance of the Maritime Deal between Turkey and Libya to Turkey's strategies in the Eastern Mediterranean will be revealed with its historical process and legal aspects, and suggestions will be presented regarding the resolution of Turkey's crises in the Eastern Mediterranean issue with the riparian states. Keywords: Eastern Mediterranean, Turkey, Libya, EEZ, Turkey-Libya Maritime Deal