On Wednesday, Libyan Coast Guard officers began training in Greece as part of a growing effort to control irregular migration routes across the Mediterranean.
The program, hosted on the island of Crete, marks a rare instance of cooperation between Libya and a European Union member state amid ongoing tensions over maritime borders and regional security.
The training, according to Greek sources, is focused on enhancing patrol capabilities, search and rescue operations, and coastal monitoring.
Participants from eastern Libya are already undergoing training, while officers from western Libya are expected to join in the coming months. The move is seen as part of broader European efforts to engage both sides of Libya’s divided security institutions in efforts to manage migration flows.
Libya remains one of the main departure points for migrants and asylum seekers attempting to reach Europe by sea. Greece has responded to the surge in arrivals by increasing naval patrols and deploying a frigate off Libya’s coast. It has also passed legislation restricting the right to seek asylum for migrants departing from Libya, labeling it a “non-safe third country.”
Despite political divisions and past disputes, especially the controversial 2019 maritime agreement signed between Libya’s Tripoli-based government and Turkey, Libya and Greece are now showing signs of cautious engagement. Greek authorities recently invited the Government of National Unity in Tripoli to begin formal talks on maritime boundary delimitation and economic zones in the Mediterranean.
Sources in Athens say discussions between Libyan and Greek delegations on maritime cooperation are expected to take place in the coming months.
The coast guard training is being framed as a practical confidence-building measure that could lay the groundwork for broader diplomatic dialogue.
For Libya, participation in such initiatives offers an opportunity to re-engage with regional actors and international partners, while also addressing urgent concerns over border control and maritime security.
