United States President Donald Trump has reposted an interview on Truth Social featuring Greek Migration and Asylum Minister Thanos Plevris, in which the minister praised Trump for reshaping global political attitudes toward irregular migration.
Plevris gave the interview to American news site Breitbart before Trump shared it to his social media followers. In the discussion, Plevris declared himself an admirer of Trump and argued that the president's return to the White House has created a more favorable environment for European governments seeking tougher border controls.
According to Plevris, European nations including Germany, France, the Netherlands, Denmark, and Sweden have all moved toward stricter migration policies under growing pressure from voters demanding more effective border enforcement.
Stricter measures in Greece
Plevris said a similar trend is taking place in Greece, pointing to public opinion polls that show strong support for the government's stance or for even tougher measures. He noted that the message from Greek citizens was clear, stating that the public had seen enough unchecked migration.
The minister framed the policy of Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis and the ruling New Democracy government as strict but fair. He said the administration remains focused on curbing irregular arrivals while sharply increasing deportations of individuals who fail to secure asylum.
Data cited by Plevris highlighted a significant drop in illegal arrivals along key migration routes. On the sea route from Libya via Egypt, Greece recorded 3,200 irregular arrivals and 69 deportations during the first half of 2025. Over the same period in 2026, arrivals fell to 802 while deportations rose to 330.
Overall, migration flows into Greece have fallen by approximately 70 percent within a year, while returns have steadily increased. Plevris attributed the decline to the mandatory detention of individuals who do not meet refugee criteria, tougher enforcement against those remaining illegally after rejected asylum claims, and an expansion of voluntary return programs.
Border defenses and international cooperation
Plevris also highlighted the border fence along the Evros region, which forms Greece's land border with Turkey in the northeast. He described the barrier as a key shield for restricting irregular land crossings.
The minister recalled the border crisis of 2020, when thousands of migrants attempted to cross en masse from Turkey into Greece. He stated that the combination of the physical barrier and dedicated security personnel played a decisive role in managing the situation, emphasizing that Greek borders also serve as the external boundary of the European Union.
Greece and the United States have also expanded direct cooperation on asylum management by sharing operational practices and technical expertise. Plevris noted that Greece began implementing its stricter border strategy when Mitsotakis took office in 2019, contrasting current figures with 2015, when around one million migrants passed through Greece during the height of the European refugee crisis.
