Cyprus
Cypriot President Nikos Christodoulides thanked Greece for the deployment of two frigates and four F-16 aircraft, and France for sending a frigate and a Mistral anti-aircraft system, describing both as expressions of the strategic alliances that bind Cyprus to its partners. He also thanked the prime ministers of Italy and Spain for their contributions.
Christodoulides was emphatic that Cyprus’s role in the crisis is strictly non-military. ‘The position of the Republic of Cyprus is clear: we are not involved in military operations. We remain in the humanitarian role we have served all this time, as part of the solution and not the problem. We know what war means; we are the victim of an illegal invasion, which is why every action we take is aimed at ensuring peace.’
He also stressed that developments in the Middle East have direct consequences for Europe. ‘Everything that happens in the Middle East affects Europe’s energy stability, migration flows and the collective European future,’ he said, calling for the EU to become more actively engaged in the wider region.
France
French President Emmanuel Macron expressed unambiguous support for Cyprus, stating: ‘I am here to tell you that when someone attacks Cyprus, they attack Europe.’ He confirmed that the aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle is operating in close proximity to the island with the specific aim of reinforcing its air defences, and announced French participation, alongside partners, in a combined operation to escort merchant vessels and guarantee freedom of navigation, led by the Greek-coordinated Operation Shield.
Macron was clear that France’s posture is defensive. ‘Our stance must remain defensive, but we must express the credibility of our action to lead to de-escalation,’ he said. He also expressed concern about Hezbollah and Israeli military activity in Lebanon, stating his goal was to prevent further attacks in both directions.
Greece
Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis described the security of Cyprus as ‘a basic national priority’ and expressed satisfaction that Greece had been the first to respond to the crisis, deploying naval and air assets. He noted that the frigate Kimon‘s first operational mission was in Cyprus, and invoked the historical connection between the island and the ancient Athenian general after whom the vessel is named.
Mitsotakis was the only one of the three leaders to take an explicit position on the substance of the war, aligning himself with the stated aims of the United States and Israel. ‘Iran must abandon its nuclear ambitions, threats against Israel and against the Gulf and Middle Eastern countries must stop, and the security of all countries in the region must be strengthened, especially Lebanon,’ he said.
The prime minister also raised the prospect of ‘large refugee flows’ as an asymmetric threat arising from the conflict, stating that this risk had led him from the outset to call for diplomacy. He stressed the need to protect Lebanon, support its government, avoid large-scale military operations in the south of the country, and facilitate the repatriation of Greek nationals from the war zone.
Closing his remarks, Mitsotakis said: ‘In a world experiencing unprecedented turmoil, Europe must remain a responsible force, capable of co-shaping global developments and ensuring stability in the Eastern Mediterranean.’
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