French President Emmanuel Macron will visit Cyprus on Monday, where he will meet President Nikos Christodoulides and Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, according to the Elysée Palace.
French presidential sources said the visit to Paphos expresses France’s solidarity with Cyprus, an EU member state with which Paris maintains a strategic partnership, following last week’s drone and missile attacks.
According to the same sources, the visit aims to strengthen security in the region of Cyprus and the eastern Mediterranean in coordination with European partners, with the broader objective of de-escalating tensions.
The visit will also provide an opportunity for the French president to underline the importance of safeguarding freedom of navigation in the region, particularly through the European Union’s naval operation “Aspides”.
French officials added that the meeting will allow further coordination regarding the safety of European citizens located in high-risk areas, as well as ongoing repatriation operations.
Greek prime minister’s visit in context of defence support
Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis is also expected to arrive in Cyprus on Monday, according to information from the Greek government.
His visit forms part of the defence support provided by Greece to Cyprus.
All three leaders are expected to arrive in Paphos on Monday.