Eastern Mediterranean at a Crossroads: Greece Leads Proposed ‘5×5’ Format with Turkey, Egypt, Cyprus & Libya

Greece is advocating for the establishment of a multilateral framework known as ‘5×5’, which includes five countries – Greece, Cyprus, Egypt, Turkey, and Libya – focusing on five thematic areas: migration, maritime zone protection, connectivity, civil protection, and marine environment protection. The goal is to foster regional cooperation and security. Foreign Minister Gerapetritis expressed Greece’s readiness to lead in the Eastern Mediterranean, emphasizing the importance of regional collaboration in addressing complex challenges. He highlighted the significance of both bilateral and multilateral dialogues, underscoring the need for consensus on key issues. The ‘5×5’ initiative aims to navigate the shifting geopolitical dynamics in the region by promoting cooperation and stability. Greece envisions becoming a hub for energy, connectivity, and maritime security in the Eastern Mediterranean. However, challenges such as Turkey’s maritime claims and Libya’s political instability pose obstacles to the initiative’s success. Greece’s diplomatic strategy aims to shift from bilateral to regional management of maritime delimitation, aligning with international law and norms. The implementation of the initiative hinges on political will from all stakeholders and addressing thematic complexities effectively. Greece insists on upholding international law, state sovereignty, and EU regulations as the foundation of the ‘5×5’ framework. The success of the initiative rests on negotiation skills, rapid implementation, and the ability to transform the discourse on maritime boundaries from bilateral disputes to a comprehensive regional strategy.