Greece to deploy frigates off Libya to curb increased migrant flows, PM says
ATHENS, June 23 (Reuters) - Greece will deploy two frigates and one more vessel off Libya's territorial waters to deter migrants from arriving at its southern islands of Crete and Gavdos, Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis said on Monday.
Mitsotakis did not elaborate on the role of the vessels or explain what they would do, but said the move would be in coordination with Libyan authorities and the rest of the European forces operating in the area.
Sea arrivals from northeastern Libya of migrants trying to cross to Europe mainly from the Middle East and North Africa, including war-torn Sudan, have surged in recent months. More than 800 migrants have tried to reach Greece's southern islands since Thursday.
Mitsotakis told Greek President Constantine Tassoulas that the issue was discussed during a national security and defence council on Sunday and that the situation was alarming.
"I have asked the defence minister... to ensure that Greek Navy vessels are deployed off Libya's territorial waters to pre-emptively ... send a message that traffickers will not command who enters our country," he said.
The three ships, including a support vessel would leave Greece in next coming days, two government officials with knowledge of the issue told Reuters.
Greece has been a favoured gateway to the European Union for migrants and refugees from the Middle East, Africa and Asia since 2015 when nearly 1 million people landed on its islands, causing an unprecedented humanitarian crisis. Since then migrant flows from Turkey have dropped significantly.
In more recent years, Greece has seen a rise in arrivals from Libya - including Sudanese nationals fleeing Egypt as well as Egyptian and Bangladeshi nationals - and Athens and Cairo have discussed the spike in migration flows.
Greece and Libya have been trying to mend relations strained by an accord signed in 2019 between the Libyan government and Turkey. (Reporting by Lefteris Papadimas; Editing by Renee Maltezou and Aidan Lewis)
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Economic Times
17 minutes ago
- Economic Times
India refutes reports in Indonesia on loss of fighter jets during Operation Sindoor
India dismissed reports about a Defence Attache's presentation in Indonesia concerning fighter jets lost during Operation Sindoor. The Indian Embassy stated the remarks were misinterpreted. The presentation highlighted the Indian Armed Forces' subordination to civilian leadership. It emphasized Operation Sindoor's objective was to target terrorist infrastructure. Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads We have seen media reports regarding a presentation made by the Defence Attache at a Seminar. His remarks have been quoted out of context and the media reports are a mis-representation of the intention and thrust of the presentation made by the speaker. The presentation... - India in Indonesia (@IndianEmbJkt) June 29, 2025 Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Jakarta: India has refuted reports regarding a presentation made by the Defence Attache at a seminar in Indonesia over the fighter jets allegedly lost during Operation Sindoor , saying that the remarks were "taken out of context" and are "misrepresenting the intention and thrust" of the presentation."We have seen media reports regarding a presentation made by the Defence Attache at a Seminar. His remarks have been quoted out of context and the media reports are a mis-representation of the intention and thrust of the presentation made by the speaker," the Indian Embassy in Indonesia said in a statement on Sunday."The presentation conveyed that the Indian Armed Forces serve under civilian political leadership unlike some other countries in our neighbourhood. It was also explained that the objective of Operation Sindoor was to target terrorist infrastructure and the Indian response was non-escalatory," it in May, Reuters released an article citing Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) General Anil Chauhan's statement on India's military superiority over Pakistan during Operation CDS admitted during the interview that the Armed Forces had suffered losses in the initial stages of the operation but then struck with impunity at Pakistan's bases."So what I can say is, on May 7 and the initial stages, there were losses, but the numbers and that's not important. What was important is why did these losses occur, and what will we do after that? So we rectified the tactics and then went back on seventh, eighth and 10th, and 10th in large numbers, to hit their bases deep inside Pakistan, penetrated all their defences with impunity, with scattered opposition strikes," Gen Chauhan was quoted as saying by decisively asserted its military superiority over Pakistan during last month's brief but intense conflict, with its aerial strikes penetrating deep into Pakistterritory and delivering pinpoint blows to critical enemy infrastructure such as radar systems, control units, and airbases, a Reuters report citing CDS statement, underlining how New Delhi's military superiority during "Operation Sindoor" forced Islamabad to tuck its Operation Sindoor, India demonstrated that large-scale counter-terror operations could be carried out with surgical precision, even against a nuclear-armed adversary, without triggering significant escalation.
Time of India
44 minutes ago
- Time of India
Did everyone underestimate Trump? Top economist admits President may have outfoxed critics on the economy
Tariffs imposed by President Donald Trump on the USA's trading countries have so far evoked sharp reactions. However, a top economist has claimed that the President and his administration may have 'outsmarted' the economists. Apollo Chief Economist Torsten Sløk has also detailed about a scenario which would benefit the world as well as churn out annual revenue worth $400 billion for taxpayers in the US. Sløk's note published ahead of Donald Trump's announcement on Sunday that the President was not planning to extend a 90-day pause on tariffs on most nations beyond July 9, when the negotiating period he set would expire, and his administration will notify countries that the trade penalties will take effect unless there are deals with the United States. In a detailed post titled "Has Trump Outsmarted Everyone on Tariffs?", Sløk noted that the Trump administration's strategy is maybe to maintain 30 per cent tariffs on China and 10 per cent tariffs on all other countries and then give all countries 12 months to lower non-tariff barriers and open up their economies to trade. Trump Tariffs - A Victory For USA? Sløk noted that extending the deadline one year would give countries and US domestic businesses time to adjust to the new world with permanently higher tariffs, and it would also result in an immediate decline in uncertainty. This would seem like a victory for the world and yet would produce $400 billion of annual revenue for US taxpayers. Trade partners will be happy with only 10 per cent tariffs and US tax revenue will go up. Maybe the administration has outsmarted all of us, the Apollo Chief Economist noted. Live Events Tariff Deadline Nears Meanwhile, President Trump on Sunday said Letters will start going out 'pretty soon" before the approaching deadline. Those letters, he said, would state, "Congratulations, we're allowing you to shop in the United States of America, you're going to pay a 25% tariff, or a 35% or a 50% or 10%." Trump told these to Fox News Channel's "Sunday Morning Futures" during a wide-ranging interview taped Friday and broadcast Sunday. On July 8, "Liberation Day" tariffs to take effect following the 90-day suspension period, potentially affecting imports from multiple countries. July 9 is the deadline for United States and the European Union to negotiate a deal to avert 50 per cent tariff duty on all EU imports. So far, the twists and turns in the US President Donald Trump's tariff policies have not only rattled global financial markets but have also taken investors on a roller-coaster ride. Companies are counting the cost of the trade war that is now being estimated at more than $34 billion in lost sales and higher expenses, a Reuters analysis showed. Trump had played down the deadline at a White House news conference Friday by noting how difficult it would be to work out separate deals with each nation. The administration had set a goal of reaching 90 trade deals in 90 days. Negotiations continue, but 'there's 200 countries, you can't talk to all of them,' he said in the interview. FAQs Q1. Who is President of USA? A1. President of USA is Donald Trump. Q2. When is Tariff deadline? A2. On July 8, "Liberation Day" tariffs to take effect following the 90-day suspension period, potentially affecting imports from multiple countries. July 9 is the deadline for United States and the European Union to negotiate a deal to avert 50 per cent tariff duty on all EU imports. Economic Times WhatsApp channel )
India Today
an hour ago
- India Today
Trump says wealthy US group is ready to buy TikTok, but needs China's approval
US President Donald Trump has announced that a group of wealthy individuals is ready to purchase TikTok's US operations. In an interview aired on Fox News Sunday Morning Futures with Maria Bartiromo, Trump said he plans to disclose the identities of the buyers within the next two weeks.'We have a buyer for TikTok, by the way,' Trump stated. 'I think I'll probably need China's approval. I think President Xi will probably do it. It's a group of very wealthy people,' Trump reported by Reuters, Trump noted that the proposed sale may require the endorsement of Chinese authorities. ByteDance, TikTok's Beijing-based parent company, remains in control of the app's global operations. The US president said he believes Chinese President Xi Jinping will likely support the deal. A potential agreement to restructure TikTok's US business under American ownership was in development earlier this year. That plan involved converting TikTok into a US-based company controlled by domestic investors. However, the transaction was delayed when China signalled that it would not approve it, just days after Trump announced new tariffs on Chinese these hurdles, Trump extended the deadline for a sale multiple acknowledged TikTok's influence on young American voters, crediting the platform for increasing his appeal among youth during the 2024 presidential President has maintained a more positive stance towards the app, in contrast with his earlier efforts to ban or force its sale. More details on the potential buyers and the deal structure are expected to emerge in the coming weeks.- EndsWith inputs from ReutersTune InMust Watch
