France, Greece and Cyprus praise “European solidarity”

“When someone attacks Cyprus, they attack Europe” French president Emmanuel Macron said on Monday in joint statements with his Cypriot counterpart, Nikos Christodoulides and Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis.

Macron and Mitsotakis arrived in Paphos at noon and held a trilateral meeting with Christodoulides, that was followed by joint statements.

Mitsotakis: We’re sending a strong message of unity and solidarity

“From here, from Cyprus, together with President Nikos Christodoulides and the President of France Emmanuel Macron, we are sending a common, clear, strong and determined message of unity and solidarity. A clear message, my dear Nikos, that the Republic of Cyprus, a member of the European family, is not and will never be alone,” stressed Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis.

The Greek PM recalled the deployment of two frigates and four F-16 fighter jets to cyprus right after the beginning of the war in the Middle East and a drone that had targeted the UK Base on the island.

Macron: When someone attacks Cyprus, they attack Europe

“I am here to tell you that when someone attacks Cyprus, they attack Europe,” Macron stressed in his own statements at the press conference.
Addressing Christodoulides, he said the Cyprus issue was a very important matter, not only for Cyprus and Greece but also for France, highlighting the importance of their partnership.

Macron noted that behind the text signed by the three leaders “lies our commitment and our military presence.” He said that a drone attack prompted France to deploy an air-defense system and a frigate, while also welcoming the contribution of other countries.

The French president additionally noted that the Charles de Gaulle (R91) aircraft carrier is currently operating very close to Cyprus, with the aim of strengthening the island’s air defense.

Macron said that France seeks to ensure maritime security, works closely with Greece, and that Operation “ Aspides”, led by Greece, is tangible proof of this cooperation.

Christodoulides: The EU must become more actively involved

The President of the Republic of Cyprus, Nikos Christodoulides, after thanking Mitsotakis and Macron for their presence, stressed in his statements that Greece, France and Cyprus are sending the message that Europe is determined to ensure the security of its member states and work for stability in the region.

“Your presence today in Paphos has substantial significance for Cyprus and for Europe,” he said, adding that the security of Cyprus is a collective responsibility and part of Europe’s security.

“Dear Kyriakos, I do not need to explain the reasons why the presence of the F-16 aircraft and the two frigates moved all of us and highlighted the historic bonds that unite Cyprus and Greece, and the certainty that we stand together,” Christodoulides said, addressing the Greek prime minister.

He also noted that France’s response with a frigate and the Mistral surface-to-air missile system demonstrated that France is a strategic ally of Cyprus, adding that this solidarity highlights the shared conviction about the need for stability and security in the region.

Christodoulides also thanked the prime ministers of Italy and Spain for their support, saying their stance demonstrates what European solidarity means in practice and contributes to the stability and security of the region, sending a message about the path Europe should follow in light of current geopolitical realities.

“Developments remind us that whatever happens in the Middle East affects Europe – its energy stability, migration flows, and the collective European future,” Christodoulides said, noting that the European Union must become more actively involved in the wider region.

After the joint statements, the Greek prime minister, accompanied by President Christodoulides, visited the hangar where the Greek F‑16 Fighting Falcon aircraft were stationed, greeting and speaking with their pilots.

The three leaders then paid a visit to the Search and Rescue Coordination Centre, where they met and greeted the operators of Mistral anti-aircraft missile systems.