Palmas reiterates that Cyprus not targeted, threats concerned British bases alone

Cyprus itself was not the target of recent threats in the region, defence minister Vasilis Palmas said on Tuesday, clarifying that warnings instead related solely to the British bases.

Speaking to Greek broadcaster ERT, Palmas asserted that the republic had not been directly threatened despite rising tensions linked to the regional conflict.

“It was not the Republic of Cyprus that was threatened, but the British bases”.

The minister made the remarks following a tripartite meeting in Cyprus between President Nikos Christodoulides, Greek prime minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis and French president Emmanuel Macron, which he described as “highly symbolic in nature”.

Palmas said Cyprus is nevertheless taking preventive measures because the British bases are located on its territory, adding that the government’s priority is to ensure public safety and national infrastructure.

He added that Cyprus had not invoked the European Union’s mutual defence clause under Article 42(7), despite heightened tensions in the eastern Mediterranean.

Palmas also thanked Greece for what he described as its rapid response in deploying naval assets to support security in the area.

“I felt pride and unity with Greece when standing on the Kimon” he said, referring to the vessel described as the ‘pride of the Greek fleet’ which was sent by Athens.

The minister said initiatives by Greece and France should serve as a model for the European Union to strengthen its collective defence.

“The EU must build a self-protection shield for all 27 member states,” he said, adding that Europe “cannot be a strong political force without a strong deterrent”.