Two Greek warships arrived off Cyprus early Wednesday, completing what Athens described as a defensive deployment aimed at shielding the island from a potential Iranian strike and underscoring Greece’s solidarity with Nicosia.
The arrival of the Kimon, the Greek Navy’s lead FDI HN frigate, and the Psara, a MEKO 200-class frigate, follows the deployment of four F-16 Viper fighter jets already stationed at the Andreas Papandreou Air Base in Paphos.
While any potential ballistic missile threat would likely be countered by US capabilities deployed in the region – including destroyers and aircraft – Greek officials said the presence of Greek armed forces on the island sends a clear message of support to the Republic of Cyprus. It also serves as a signal to European partners, who Athens believes have yet to fully grasp the risk of the Middle East crisis spilling over.
Defense Minister Nikos Dendias highlighted the deployment during a visit to Nicosia on Tuesday. “I have repeatedly said that for Greece, for Greek society, for the nation, Cyprus is not far away. And today the Greek government proves that Cyprus lies near,” he said after meeting his Cypriot counterpart, Vasilis Palmas. He added: “We are always by the side of the Republic of Cyprus, by the side of the island of Cyprus, by the side of all the lawful residents of the Republic of Cyprus.” Dendias, accompanied by armed forces chief Dimitris Choupis, also met Cypriot President Nikos Christodoulides, who thanked Athens for the Greek military presence.
In Athens, officials sought to ease concerns about a possible strike on Souda Bay, where US forces are concentrated. Foreign Minister George Gerapetritis said the operational question of whether Iran’s current ballistic missiles have the range to reach Souda is “very technical,” noting that “a ballistic missile of such range has never been tested for us to know.” He added that politically, “at this moment it is a target that is not at all within Iranian planning.”
Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Lana Zochiou said Greece’s assistance to Cyprus “has a purely defensive character and does not in any way constitute our involvement in the war.”
Separately, France responded positively to Nicosia’s request by sending a frigate. Paris is also expected to dispatch anti-missile and anti-drone systems and, soon, a second frigate. Christodoulides said the immediate Greek response “is being followed by other European states.” Britain is expected to send the destroyer HMS Dragon and helicopters to defend its Royal Air Force base at Akrotiri.