Greece deploys warships near Libya

Greece has announced the deployment of three warships in the Eastern Mediterranean between Turkey and Libya, citing the need to control the flow of migrants coming from Libya, according to Turkish media outlet Zaman.

Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis stated at the recent European Union summit in Brussels that the deployment aims to enhance maritime border security and prevent human smuggling. He explained that the naval vessels will monitor and intercept boats operated by smugglers, compelling them to return near the Libyan coast.

The move coincides with increased diplomatic tensions between Greece and Turkey following the European Council’s rejection of the maritime memorandum of understanding (MoU) signed between Turkey and Libya.

The European Council said the MoU violates the sovereign rights of a third country and does not conform to international maritime law, thus lacking legal effect for other states.

Mohamed Al-Harari, head of the Land and Maritime Borders Committee at Libya’s Foreign Ministry under the government of Prime Minister Abdul Hamid Dbeibeh, recently visited Athens to restart dialogue and welcomed the Greek Foreign Minister Giorgos Gerapetritis’s intention to visit Libya for talks. He also noted that the suspension of negotiations between Tripoli and Athens indicates that Greece does not recognise the Libya-Turkey maritime agreement.

On 25 June, Prime Minister Mitsotakis posted on his X (formerly Twitter) account that Greece is sending naval ships to Libyan waters with a clear message to smugglers: “We are not a wild vineyard.”

Meanwhile, Libya’s House of Representatives is preparing to ratify the maritime agreement with Turkey after establishing a technical committee in early June. This agreement is viewed as conflicting with the maritime border delimitation accord between Egypt and Greece.

The situation highlights ongoing challenges in the Eastern Mediterranean regarding migration, maritime boundaries, and regional relations.