Lebanon warned its neighbors on Thursday not to use a planned gas pipeline that will go from Israel to the European Union, citing a maritime border disagreement they claim with the Jewish state, which it considers an adversary.
Lebanese Foreign Minister Gebran Bassil wrote a letter to U.N. Secretary General António Guterres, European Union foreign-policy chief Federica Mogherini and the foreign ministers of Italy, Greece and Cyprus to ask that the pipeline “does not infringe on Lebanon’s rights within what it claims as its exclusive economic zone (EEZ),” reported Reuters, which obtained a copy of the letter sent to Greece’s foreign ministry.
It states that Lebanon won’t permit anyone to impose on its jurisdiction, “especially when it comes to any eventual attempt from Israel to encroach on Lebanon’s sovereign rights and jurisdiction over its EEZ.”
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced on Wednesday that U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo will visit the Jewish state within the next few days to assist with its agreement to export natural gas to Europe.
“In a few days, the leaders of Cyprus and Greece will come here, together with … Pompeo to advance a gas pipeline from Israel to Europe via these countries,” he said.
Pompeo also plans to travel to Lebanon and Kuwait.