Exposing the Betrayal: How Nawaf Salam's Government Surrendered Lebanon's Maritime Rights

Lebanon is currently facing a significant challenge regarding its maritime rights, as the nation attempts to define its borders amidst a backdrop of historical losses. This situation echoes previous events from 2007 and 2022, where Lebanon’s efforts to assert its rights have resulted in detrimental outcomes. The ongoing struggle for maritime sovereignty highlights the critical need for fair negotiations and adherence to international law.

In 2007, Lebanon made a controversial agreement under the leadership of Prime Minister Fouad Siniora. Despite the government losing its charter due to the withdrawal of Shiite ministers, this agreement adopted a median line for maritime boundaries, leading to the loss of thousands of square kilometers of Lebanon’s exclusive economic zone to Cyprus. According to a study conducted by the Legal Consultations Center at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in 2014, Lebanon’s loss amounted to approximately 2,643 square kilometers. Further analysis by the Lebanese Army indicated that this loss could exceed 5,000 square kilometers.

As a result of this agreement, Cyprus, with its extensive coastline, emerged as the primary beneficiary, while Lebanon, with its limited coastline, suffered significantly. This outcome sharply contradicts the principles outlined in the Law of the Sea Convention, which mandates fairness in maritime boundary agreements.

Fast forward to 2022, Prime Minister Najib Mikati established a committee aimed at addressing the imbalances created by the 2007 agreement. The committee’s recommendations included:

Drawing a provisional median line.
Adjusting the line based on specific circumstances.
Conducting a proportionality test.
Amending Decree 6433/2011 with updated coordinates.
Negotiating with Cyprus and registering the new coordinates with the United Nations.
Considering international arbitration if negotiations failed.

These proposals presented a promising path for reclaiming significant maritime areas for Lebanon. However, following the formation of Nawaf Salam’s government, these recommendations were largely disregarded.

On July 11, 2025, Salam established a technical committee led by Minister of Public Works Fayez Rasamni. The committee included members such as Brigadier General Mazen Basbous, a military representative, and lawyer Najib Massihi, an international law expert, alongside directors general lacking technical expertise. Notably, prominent figures like retired Brigadier General Afif Ghaith, who opposed the 2007 agreement, were excluded from this committee.

Alarmingly, the new committee reinstated the median line approach, disregarding established jurisprudence which emphasizes fairness in maritime demarcation. Moreover, the committee’s rapid progress raised suspicions of compliance with American directives, which seemingly pressured swift agreement with Cyprus.

Shortly after the committee’s formation, Cypriot intelligence chief Tasos Tzionis visited Beirut, issuing threats that Cyprus would seek additional territory if Lebanon did not implement the 2007 agreement. This threat was made under evident American support, coinciding with Cyprus’s allowance of Israeli military maneuvers in its airspace, simulating an invasion of Lebanon.

The situation prompted the Parliamentary Public Works and Energy Committee to convene an extraordinary session on September 18, 2025. Chaired by MP Sajih Attieh, the session saw participation from Rasamni, Basbous, and Massihi, along with experts such as Brigadier General Khalil Gemayel and Dr. Issam Khalifeh. During the meeting, Basbous and Massihi defended the committee’s position, citing the principle of “estoppel” as a barrier to amending Decree 6433. They argued that the difference in coastline lengths between Cyprus and Lebanon was inconsequential.

However, parliamentary members and experts countered these claims robustly. They highlighted that:

Article 3 of the decree permits amendments when new data emerges.
The length of Cyprus’s coastline was artificially inflated through undulations introduced into the measurements.
The Court of the Law of the Sea emphasizes proportionality over a simple median line.

Brigadier General Gemayel presented eight international rulings affirming Lebanon’s right to reclaim extensive maritime areas. He noted that Cyprus represents only 3 percent of the region’s coastline yet claims maritime areas significantly larger than its land area, in stark contrast to Lebanon’s more modest claims.

During this parliamentary session, voices, particularly from Hezbollah, raised concerns about the agreement with Cyprus. MP Hussein Hajj Hassan advocated for a freeze on any agreements until the demarcation with Syria was finalized, as recommended by the Law of the Sea Court. He cautioned against leveraging the threat of foreign company withdrawals as a justification, asserting that this primarily reflects foreign political motivations, with Cyprus bearing the most risk.

Pro-Resistance MP Jamil al-Sayyed underscored the necessity of enlisting specialized international experts to create a comprehensive scientific perspective that safeguards Lebanon’s maritime rights. Meanwhile, Dr. Issam Khalifa condemned the committee’s actions, characterizing them as bordering on treason, urging prosecution if it was revealed they had compromised Lebanese interests.

The pattern of events illustrates that Nawaf Salam’s government has revived the inequitable 2007 agreement while neglecting the Mikati Committee’s recommendations that asserted Lebanon’s right to amend Decree 6433 based on fairness principles. The formation of a weak committee, which excluded national experts and relied on dubious legal arguments, ultimately succumbed to American and Cypriot pressure, solidifying Lebanon’s loss of over 5,000 square kilometers of its maritime rights.

Despite these setbacks, the opposition from parliament and national experts, especially from Hezbollah, signifies a crucial pushback against perceived American encroachment on Lebanon’s sovereignty and resources. Observers suggest the establishment of an independent body to address maritime demarcation issues, ensuring that Lebanon’s maritime resources are managed based on scientific and equitable principles rather than yielding to international pressures that favor foreign agendas.