Greece has announced plans to deploy navy warships near Libya following a sharp increase in migrant arrivals on the islands of Crete and Gavdos. The move raises concerns about Europe’s ongoing cooperation with Libya on migration control, despite mounting evidence of abuse and forced labor in Libyan detention centers.
A dangerous route and familiar risks
Last week, 731 migrants — including many children — arrived on Crete and Gavdos in just 24 hours, having departed from Libya. The passengers, most from Egypt, Eritrea, Pakistan, and Sudan, appear to be part of a growing trend: as Greek authorities tighten surveillance at their eastern maritime border with Turkey, smugglers are shifting to the longer and more dangerous central Mediterranean route from North Africa.
The Greek Prime Minister, Kyriakos Mitsotakis, announced the navy deployment after an emergency meeting of the Council of Ministers. Euronews reports him saying,
“Unfortunately, we have seen several incidents in recent days that force us to act in a preventive and deterrent manner more strongly. … It is a move that is imperative under the present circumstances and obviously the issue of Libya will be raised by me as well at the European Council next Thursday.”
He added that the deployment would take place “as a precautionary measure, and always in cooperation with the Libyan authorities and the other European powers” in an effort to “send a message that [migrant] smugglers will not be in charge of who enters our country.”
By mid-June 2025, more than 16,000 migrants had arrived in Greece this year—over 14,600 by sea. This follows a surge in 2024, when arrivals jumped to over 60,000.
Migrants face abuse in Libya
This announcement comes amid renewed concerns about the risks migrants face in Libya. Migrants intercepted at sea risk being returned to Libya, where they may face arbitrary detention, forced labor, or trafficking — violations of international human rights law. A 2023 UN fact-finding mission concluded that crimes against humanity had been committed against migrants in Libyan detention centers.
Despite the growing number of people fleeing from Libya’s human rights crisis, Greece’s response has focused on deterrence rather than protection. While Greece insists its naval operations will comply with international law, the possibility of migrants being intercepted and returned to Libya — either directly or indirectly — raises serious human rights concerns. Under international law, governments must not return individuals to places where they face a real risk of serious harm, a principle known as non-refoulement.
600 migrants rescued near Southern Greece
Just days after Mitsotakis’s announcement, more than 600 migrants were rescued from overcrowded boats found adrift near Crete and Gavdos. Passengers had departed from Libya’s Tobruk region, with some reportedly paying smugglers €4,000 for the journey. Two Sudanese teenagers identified as the boat operaters were arrested by the Greek coast guard on suspicion of trafficking.
Freedom United and our partners continue to call on the EU and member states to end cooperation with Libyan authorities and ensure no person is returned to abuse. As migration routes shift and enforcement measures intensify, the need for a rights-based approach is more urgent than ever.
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Any member of NATO that took part in the destruction of Libya owes these refugees sanctuary. Next time, think before you bomb!
Greece as well as all other sovereign nations have the right to determine who will enter their country. China is for the Chinese, Africa is for Africans, and Europe is for Europeans.
What plans are actually being put in place to cope with the huge exodus of people from sub-Saharan Africa when global warming makes those countries totally uninhabitable? There is nowhere else to go except North, to a more temperate and livable climate. There is only ocean to the East, West and South. There is no alternative to travelling North.
Well done Greece. Keep them out.