Nicosia, Cyprus. Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis said any threat against Cyprus is unacceptable, as Greece increased its military presence on the island and urged rapid de-escalation amid regional tensions.
Mitsotakis addresses Cyprus security and Greek deployments
Mitsotakis made the remarks on Tuesday during a meeting with opposition leader Nikos Androulakis. He said any threat against the Republic of Cyprus, a European Union member state, is unacceptable, adding that Greek diplomacy and the upgraded Greek armed forces are placed “at the service of universal Hellenism.”
He said Greece had deployed Defence Minister Nikos Dendias, four fighter jets and two frigates to Cyprus in the last 24 hours. Mitsotakis added that Greece was monitoring developments closely and seeking a rapid de-escalation, citing past conflicts in the Middle East that led to geopolitical impacts and humanitarian crises.
Androulakis expresses solidarity with Cyprus and calls for European initiatives
Androulakis said he had contacted Cypriot President Nikos Christodoulides to express “full solidarity” and praised the Greek response to the drone strike that hit Cyprus shortly after midnight on Monday.
He said Greece has consistently been a pillar of security and respect for international law in the region, and that Greece’s military presence in the eastern Mediterranean should be linked to the protection of Hellenism, particularly Cypriot Hellenism. Androulakis said Cyprus is closer to the war zone and that there should be no scenario of the country being involved in the war being waged by the United States and Israel with Iran.
He also said Greece must act as the “voice” of Europe in the region and take initiatives at the European level, calling for a common European strategy in response to what he described as a new reality that could create instability for European peoples.
What role do you think the European Union should play in efforts to de-escalate tensions in the eastern Mediterranean?
