The security of the European Union is inseparable from that of the wider Middle East and Gulf region, Cyprus Foreign Minister Constantinos Kombos told the Foreign Affairs Council on Tuesday, underlining the need for a more active EU role amid escalating regional tensions.
Speaking at the Council meeting in Luxembourg, Kombos addressed a broad agenda that included Russia’s continued aggression against Ukraine, developments in the Middle East, and the situations in the South Caucasus and Sudan.
On Ukraine, the foreign minister reiterated Cyprus’s full support and stressed the work carried out during the Cypriot EU Presidency to advance the disbursement of the €90 billion loan package and the adoption of the 20th sanctions package against Russia. He expressed hope for positive developments in the near term and highlighted EU backing for humanitarian assistance, social cohesion and efforts to strengthen Ukraine’s resilience.
Focus on Lebanon and regional stability
The meeting also included an informal exchange of views with Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam. Kombos stressed that the EU must provide tangible support to the Lebanese authorities in their efforts to stabilise the country, noting that Lebanon’s stability is a key factor for wider regional security.
Foreign ministers further discussed the situation in the broader Middle East, with particular focus on Iran and the potential impact of developments in the Strait of Hormuz. Syria, Gaza and the West Bank were also on the agenda.
In this context, Kombos emphasised the need for closer and more active EU engagement, reiterating that instability in the Middle East and the Gulf has direct implications for European security.
He noted that these regional issues are also expected to be discussed at leaders’ level during the informal European Council meeting scheduled to take place later this week in Nicosia.
South Caucasus and Sudan
Turning to the South Caucasus, Kombos said the exchange of views reflected the strategic importance of the region for the EU, within the framework governing the Union’s relations with third countries.
On Sudan, ministers underlined the need to intensify diplomatic efforts in order to achieve an immediate ceasefire, seen as a prerequisite for restoring peace.
On the sidelines of the Council, Kombos held a bilateral meeting with Lebanese Prime Minister Salam, during which they discussed issues of mutual interest and practical ways in which the EU and Cyprus could support Lebanon’s authorities.
