Paphos, Cyprus. French President Emmanuel Macron and Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis arrived at the Andreas Papandreou airbase on Monday afternoon for a tripartite meeting with Cypriot President Nikos Christodoulides. The talks were described as aimed at strengthening security around Cyprus and in the eastern Mediterranean.
Arrivals and delegations
Mitsotakis arrived first and was joined by Greek Foreign Minister Giorgos Gerapetritis. Macron’s presidential jet landed in Paphos while Mitsotakis and Christodoulides were exchanging greetings on the tarmac.
Christodoulides travelled to Paphos accompanied by Cypriot Foreign Minister Constantinos Kombos and Defence Minister Vasilis Palmas, with talks reported as ongoing.
Stated aims of the meeting
On Sunday, the Elysee palace said the meeting aimed “to strengthen security around Cyprus and in the eastern Mediterranean with our European partners, with a view to contributing to de-escalation in the region”.
The Elysee said the trip sought to demonstrate France’s solidarity with Cyprus, “a member state of the European Union with which we have a strategic partnership,” and said Cyprus was struck last week by several drone and missile attacks.
Military deployments linked to the visit
The meeting was held in Paphos after Greece deployed four F-16 fighter jets to the town’s airbase last Monday. France and Greece have also deployed frigates off Cyprus.
Greece deployed two frigates, including the Kimon, which Mitsotakis described on Wednesday as the “pride of the Greek fleet”. France’s Languedoc frigate arrived in Cypriot waters on Wednesday.
Macron also announced that the aircraft carrier the Charles de Gaulle would be deployed in the eastern Mediterranean, and it was believed that the aircraft carrier and its strike group passed through the Strait of Gibraltar on Friday.
Macron comments on coordination and maritime routes
In a televised address on Tuesday night, Macron said France was ensuring close coordination with allies and European partners, “first and foremost, our Greek friends,” to strengthen efforts in the eastern Mediterranean.
He said France was “taking the initiative to build a coalition to bring together the resources, including military resources, to resume and secure traffic in maritime routes which are essential to the global economy”.
What do you think the tripartite meeting could change for security in Cyprus and the eastern Mediterranean?
