As Turkish President Erdogan and Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis discussed bilateral relations in Ankara, Turkey's Energy Minister, Alparslan Bayraktar, announced that Turkey has 'gained the right to seek oil and gas in Libya.' This declaration signifies Turkey's increasing ambitions in the resource-rich North African country, particularly amidst ongoing tensions in the Eastern Mediterranean.

Bayraktar detailed that Turkey's national oil company, TPAO, in collaboration with Spain's Repsol and Hungary's MOL, will be exploring for oil off the coast of Benghazi and on land in the Sirte basin. The joint venture will focus on the offshore area O7, which spans over 10,300 square kilometers in deep water regions exceeding 1,500 meters in depth, approximately 140 kilometers northwest of Benghazi. The allocations of the project will see Repsol managing 40%, TPAO holding 40%, and MOL with a 20% stake.

This development is crucial because Libya is the second-largest oil producer in Africa, and Turkey's involvement could shift the balance of power in the region. As various international players maintain an interest in Libya's resources, Turkey's proactive approach may exacerbate existing tensions with Greece and other regional stakeholders while also reshaping the dynamics of energy exploration and production in North Africa.