The deployments, reportedly coordinated after discussions between Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis and Cypriot President Nikos Christodoulides, signal practical support for Nicosia during a period of elevated risk. The FDI frigate Kimon is on its maiden voyage, while the MEKO frigate will provide additional operational capability in the region.
Greek Minister of National Defense Nikos Dendias, accompanied by Chief of the General Staff General Dimitrios Houpis, will travel to Nicosia on Tuesday, March 3, 2026, to meet the Cypriot leadership. He will hold discussions with his counterpart Vassilis Palmas to coordinate security measures and response scenarios in case of further destabilization.
“By decision of KYSEA, the frigate Kimon and a second frigate carrying the Kentaurus system are being deployed immediately to Cyprus. A pair of F-16 fighters are also being sent to support its defense,” Dendias stated following an emergency meeting at the Ministry of National Defense. He emphasized that Greece will contribute “in every possible way” to defending Cyprus against threats and unlawful actions.
Cyprus: Base Evacuations and Alerts
Tensions on the island have escalated, with British bases placed on high alert late Sunday. RAF Akrotiri sounded alarms as fighter jets scrambled, and personnel were ordered to evacuate parts of the base. Reports also indicate that a drone strike shortly after midnight prompted the closure of base gates.
Cyprus government spokesman Konstantinos Letymbiotis confirmed that two drones approaching the British bases in Akrotiri were intercepted. Heightened readiness measures were activated at critical infrastructure, including Paphos Airport, which was evacuated after a suspicious drone was detected. The British base in Dhekelia and the US Embassy in Nicosia were also evacuated.
Authorities continue to monitor the situation closely, with investigations into the drone origins and trajectories underway. No casualties have been reported from the Paphos evacuation or related incidents, but the events underscore the fragile security environment in the Eastern Mediterranean.
Cyprus: Paphos Airport Evacuated as Sirens Sound Again at Akrotiri – New Drone Threat