The President of France Emmanuel Macron and the Prime Minister of Greece Kyriakos Mitsotakis arrive in Cyprus today for a meeting with President of the Republic Nikos Christodoulides in Paphos. The visit takes place amid heightened regional tensions and ongoing coordination among European partners regarding security developments in the Eastern Mediterranean.
According to Government Spokesperson Konstantinos Letymbiotis, the discussions will focus on developments in the wider region and the preventive measures currently being implemented.
Brief visit and regional review
The leaders of France and Greece will carry out a short visit to Paphos, during which they will hold talks with President Christodoulides. During the meeting, the three leaders are expected to review recent regional developments and exchange views on the current security environment.
Message of solidarity from France
Sources close to the Élysée Palace stated that President Macron’s visit to Paphos expresses France’s solidarity with Cyprus as a member state of the European Union. France maintains a strategic partnership agreement with the Republic of Cyprus.
The visit is also intended to strengthen cooperation with European partners to enhance security in the area surrounding Cyprus and the Eastern Mediterranean, with the aim of contributing to the de-escalation of the crisis.
Focus on maritime security and EU operations
French sources added that the visit will allow President Macron to underline the importance of safeguarding freedom of navigation in the region. Reference was made to the European Union naval operation “Aspides”, which aims to protect maritime routes.
The discussions are also expected to address coordination efforts concerning the safety of European citizens located in high-risk areas, as well as ongoing repatriation operations.
Greece’s position on defence support
According to information from the Greek government, Prime Minister Mitsotakis’ visit forms part of the defence support provided by Greece to Cyprus. In his weekly post on Facebook, the Greek Prime Minister stated that recent developments demonstrated how the strengthening of Greece’s diplomacy and defence policy translates into tangible security and solidarity. He noted that when the conflict in the Middle East threatened Cyprus, Greece immediately stood by the island.
Mitsotakis also stated that other European partners followed this approach, contributing to the creation of what he described as a European framework of air and naval protection around Cyprus.
Source: CNA