Greece Deploys Two Navy Frigates Off Libya to Curb Migrant Flows, PM Mitsotakis Seeks EU Cooperation

Greece has deployed at least two frigates and a general support vessel of the Hellenic Navy in international waters off the coast of Libya to monitor and deter increased migrant flows toward the Greek island of Crete. Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis announced the preventive naval operation during meetings with the President of the Republic and at the European Union Summit, emphasizing that the move aims to send a clear message to human traffickers that they will not control migration routes into Greece. The deployment comes amid a recent surge in migrant arrivals from northeastern Libya, with over 800 migrants attempting to reach southern Greece in a few days. Greece is also seeking cooperation with Libyan authorities and the European Union to address the migration challenge, while calling for a strong EU response to the controversial Turkey-Libya maritime agreement, which Athens considers illegal. The naval presence extends south of Crete up to the limits of Libya's territorial waters, reflecting Greece's intensified efforts to block illegal migration corridors and protect its maritime borders.