Greek coast guard denies allegations of illegal pushbacks

On Monday, Turkey’s Defense Ministry reported that the Turkish coast guard rescued migrants allegedly pushed back by Greece in the Aegean Sea.

The ministry uploaded drone footage onto the X social media platform, apparently showing a Greek coast guard vessel pushing a boat carrying migrants into Turkish waters north of Lesbos.

“Our Coast Guard Command was immediately informed and the immigrants in question were rescued by the coast guard boat that arrived in the area,” the defense ministry said on X.

In response, a senior Greek coast guard official stated that this was “in no way a pushback,” but rather “the detection and prevention” of irregular entry into Greek territorial waters.

Greece which is a popular gateway into the European Union for refugees and migrants from the Middle East, Asia and Africa, has been repeatedly accused by rights groups of forcibly pushing back migrants at its sea and land borders. This practice, which consists of forcibly removing people from a territory and denying them the right to apply for asylum or have their protection claims properly assessed, is illegal under international law.

Greece repeatedly denies accusations that it has engaged in pushbacks.

Also read: Greece: 77 migrants rescued in major Aegean Sea operation

Migrants rescued

On Monday there were four further rescue operations conducted by the Turkish coast guard, which could indicate possible pushbacks from Greece, The Daily Sabah reported. The Turkish coast guard reportedly rescued 42 migrants, including 13 children, on two life rafts off the coast of Datça in the south western Muğla province.

Off the coast of Bodrum in Muğla, authorities intercepted 56 migrants, including 19 children, on a sailboat headed for Italy. Later, 19 more migrants, including eight children, were found in the same region.

In addition, the coast guard saved 20 migrants trapped on an island near Marmaris after they called for help. In recent months there have been a number of similar incidents, where the Turkish authorities alleged the rescue attempts followed illegal pushbacks by Greece.

According to authorities, all rescued migrants were handed over to the Provincial Directorate of Immigration after processing.

Three suspects were detained on suspicion of smuggling the migrants.

Also read: Turkey: Raft crash on Aegean coast kills at least 7 migrants

Smuggling and border violence

Last Sunday, Greek police reported that a border guard was shot near the Evros river, on the Greek Turkish border with the shots allegedly coming from the Turkish side. Greek media have suggested smugglers may be responsible. The incident is now being investigated by the authorities.

Smuggling attempts across the Evros river rise considerably during summer droughts, making it easier to cross. Greece is constructing a border fence to prevent irregular crossings. According to the UNHCR, 3,168 people have used this route from Turkey to Greece in 2024 up to July 14.

Turkey, which currently hosts the largest refugee population in the world, at close to four million people, is also a significant transit point for migrants aiming for Europe. There has been a steep increase in migrant crossings both by land and sea since the beginning of the Syrian civil war in 2011. Many migrants undertake dangerous journeys with the help of smugglers, who often abandon them after being paid. However, Turkish security forces frequently intercept these attempts.

From 2010 to 2023, Turkey rescued 184,175 migrants from the sea, while 923 died and 503 remain missing. Recently, Turkish authorities rescued 18 migrants and recovered seven bodies from a boat allegedly pushed back by Greek forces.

Also read: Greek border guard shot near northern border with Turkey

Strained relations

Relations between Greece and Turkey are strained, particularly regarding the treatment of migrants. The two NATO allies have long been at odds over issues such as continental shelf boundaries, energy resources, Aegean Sea flights, and the ethnically partitioned island of Cyprus. The latest incident comes two days after the 50th anniversary of Turkey’s invasion of part of Cyprus following a brief Greek-inspired coup. Greek Cypriots seek reunification as a federation, while Turkish Cypriots prefer a two-state solution.

This situation remains a point of contention, frustrating Ankara’s EU ambitions and hindering east Mediterranean energy potential due to overlapping territorial claims. In 2023, both nations agreed to improve relations, aiming for closer ties through a newly established roadmap.

In addition, amid rising domestic tensions over Syrian refugees, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has been pursuing dialog with Russia backed Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, aiming to facilitate the return of refugees amid economic hardship and unrest in Turkey. However, negotiations are complicated by Turkey’s extensive military presence in Syria and Assad’s demand for Turkish troop withdrawal.

Russia backs Erdoğan to end Turkish support for Syrian rebels, which aligns with its own interests in focusing on Ukraine. The situation remains complex due to potential humanitarian crises and Erdoğan’s need to address domestic refugee issues, with no significant progress yet on proposed talks.

Also read: Turkey’s Erdogan seeks dialogue with Syria’s Assad amid tensions over refugees