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.

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