Greek Foreign Minister George Gerapetritis met with Eastern Libya leader Khalifa Haftar in Benghazi on Sunday and agreed that migrant flows and maritime zones should be in accordance with international law.
In his introductory speech, the Greek FM said:
“It is a great honor to be in Benghazi today to convey to you the Prime Minister’s message that the ties remain fraternal. Geography unites us, we share a part of the Mediterranean, [and] we are friendly neighboring countries. Our cultural ties go back to antiquity and our aim is to develop these relations even further.”
The two men talked for an hour. According to Gerapetritis’ agenda, the main issue was the increased migrant flow from Libya to the southern Greek island of Crete, where, in the last few weeks, migration flows have surged out of control.
Just last week, 1,400 migrant arrivals were recorded within three days on Crete alone, leading to an accommodation problem that increases by the day. The Greek Foreign Minister requested that Libya’s strongman take measures to limit illegal activity of migrant traffickers at Libya’s shores.
#BREAKING
Libyan Army General Khalifa Haftar Meets Greek FM Giorgos Gerapetritis in Benghazi pic.twitter.com/49VtxDE05L— Libya Review (@LibyaReview) July 6, 2025
The Libya-Turkey memorandum on maritime zones
Following the meeting in Benghazi, the Greek Foreign Minister reported that they had discussed migration, maritime zones, and bilateral cooperation. The issue of maritime zones is ongoing following the known significant Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs), signed by Turkey and Libya’s other government, the Government of National Unity (GNU), based in Tripoli.
The MoU signed in November 2019 had been condemned by the international community because it violates the maritime boundaries of Greece and Cyprus. Today, the GNU is recognized as Libya’s official government. Initially, the government of Haftar had condemned the agreement. However, in June, he criticized Greece for issuing a tender for hydrocarbon search in plots south of Crete. This came a day after an equally strong reaction from the Tripoli government.
The Benghazi government issued a statement similar to that of the Tripoli government, claiming that Greece’s move violates Libya’s sovereign rights.
Meeting with the Tripoli government
The Greek FM had also planned to meet with Libya’s government in Tripoli. However, that visit has been postponed until July 15th. Greece is at a point at which it must maintain a delicate balance between the two governments following rapprochement between Eastern and Western Libya, achieved to a large extent as a result of Turkey’s mediation.
Libya was divided into two sides in 2014, but there are deep historical and cultural differences that Ankara has managed to overcome with both governments through the use of compensatory tactics. Greece will have to address this dynamic through its own advantageous position as a member of the EU and the UN Security Council.
