Greece Deploys At Least Two Frigates Off Libya to Curb Migrant Flows Amid EU Talks and Turkish-Libyan Deal Tensions

The Greek government, led by Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, has deployed at least two frigates and one general support vessel of the Hellenic Navy in international waters off the coast of Libya. This naval deployment aims to monitor and deter the increasing flows of illegal migrants attempting to reach Greece, particularly via sea routes from northeastern Libya to southern Greece and Crete. The operation is described as preventive, with the Greek Navy positioned outside Libya's territorial waters to send a clear message to human traffickers that they will not be allowed to control migration flows. The move comes amid a surge in migrant arrivals, with more than 800 migrants trying to reach southern Greece in a recent short period.

Mitsotakis has emphasized the intention to make life difficult for traffickers and has called for cooperation with Libyan authorities and support from the European Union to address the migration challenge. The deployment also coincides with tensions surrounding the 2019 maritime deal between Turkey and Libya, which Greece considers illegal. The EU's Commissioner for Migration is scheduled to meet with Mitsotakis in Athens to discuss the migrant flows from Libya. Greece's naval presence extends south of Crete up to the limits of Libya's territorial waters as part of broader efforts to curb irregular migration into Europe.