Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis has announced the deployment of warships to international waters off the Libyan coast as a preventive measure to contain the flow of illegal migrants.
According to the News Daily website, the announcement came during Mitsotakis’s meeting with the President of the Hellenic Republic, where he expressed “deep concern” over the rise in migration activity toward the island of Crete.
Mitsotakis stated that “several incidents in recent days require intensified preventive action,” adding that the vessels will operate outside Libyan territorial waters in coordination with local authorities and European forces. He stressed: “We are sending a clear message that smugglers will not be allowed to reach our territory. This is a necessary step under the current circumstances.”
The Prime Minister said he had instructed the Ministry of Defense and the Armed Forces Command to ensure the deployment of the ships, describing the move as part of “ongoing cooperation with Libyan authorities.” He also affirmed his intention to raise the latest developments in the Libyan file at the upcoming European Council meeting on Thursday, expressing hope for “conclusions that fully reflect Greece’s positions.”
Meanwhile, the Greek newspaper Kathimerini reported that Foreign Minister George Gerapetritis is scheduled to visit Libya in early July to discuss several issues of mutual concern, most notably the maritime border dispute and the challenge of irregular migration.
At the heart of the dispute between Libya and Greece is the role of islands in maritime delimitation. Libya argues that small islands stretching from the southern Ionian Sea to the southeast of Crete—including Strofades, Sapienza, Schiza, Gavdos, and Chrysi—should not significantly impact the determination of maritime zones.
The upcoming visit comes amid heightened tensions between Athens and both the Government of National Unity and the parallel government in eastern Libya, following Greece’s international call for hydrocarbon exploration licenses in waters south of Crete.
