Greek PM seeks Libya’s help to curb rising migrant arrivals

Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis is calling on Libya and the European Union to take urgent action to help curb a growing number of migrants arriving from eastern Libya to the Greek islands of Crete and Gavdos, according to Reuters.

“As I head into the EU summit in Brussels, I will brief my colleagues on the sharp rise in arrivals from eastern Libya and request the European Commission’s support to address the issue without delay,” Mitsotakis said.

In response to the surge, Greece announced earlier this week that it will deploy two frigates and an additional vessel to patrol waters off the Libyan coast in an effort to deter migrant departures.

The tiny island of Gavdos, home to just 70 residents during the off-season, has seen a dramatic spike in migrant arrivals in recent weeks, AFP reports.

“We do not have the capacity to handle this level of migration,” Gavdos Mayor Lilian Stefanakis told Greek public radio Ert. “Institutional support and long-term solutions are urgently needed.”

According to Greece’s Port Police, 7,300 migrants have arrived on Crete and Gavdos so far in 2025—already surpassing the 4,935 recorded throughout all of 2024.

Smugglers are increasingly directing migrants toward these islands as a gateway to Europe, prompting concerns about the region’s ability to manage the continued flow.