Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis has said the country will deploy two frigates and a support vessel off the coast of Libya to stem the rising number of migrants attempting to reach its southern islands of Crete and Gavdos from Libya.
The Greek government announced the decision on Monday, describing the current migration situation as “alarming” following a sharp increase in sea crossings from northeastern Libya. Since last Thursday alone, more than 800 migrants, mainly from the Middle East, North Africa, and conflict-torn Sudan, have tried to make the perilous journey to Greece.
Naval Vessels Deployment
Speaking after a national security and defence council meeting, Mitsotakis said the deployment will be carried out in coordination with Libyan authorities and other European forces operating in the area. He also emphasised that the mission is intended to send a strong message to human traffickers.
“I have asked the defence minister to ensure that Greek Navy vessels are deployed off Libya’s territorial waters to preemptively send a message that traffickers will not dictate who enters our country,” he said.
The move comes amid growing pressure on European Union member states to manage irregular migration more effectively. Greece in has faced a migration explosion since the 2015 refugee crisis, when nearly one million migrants entered the EU through the country as it has remained a key gateway for people fleeing conflict and poverty.
While migrant flows from Turkey have declined in recent years, crossings from Libya have increased, adding to tensions in Greece with the latest surge including Sudanese nationals fleeing instability in Egypt, as well as Egyptian and Bangladeshi migrants.
The naval deployment also comes as Greece and Libya seek to rebuild relations strained by a 2019 maritime accord between Libya’s government and Turkey that Greece strongly opposed. Mitsotakis noted that the issue of Libya will also be raised at the upcoming European Council meeting on Thursday, where he expects conclusions that fully support Greece’s position.