Our View: Buildup of warships undermines statement Cyprus not involved in conflict

The assembling of frigates in the sea surrounding Cyprus is quite an achievement for President Nikos Christodoulides. So far, two frigates from the Greek navy were expected to arrive late on Tuesday, while another two frigates were promised by French president Emmanuel Macron and a warship was deployed to the island by British Prime Minister Keir Starmer. We are currently waiting for a reply from the chancellor of Germany and the prime minister of Italy, who were also asked for help.

This shows the president in a very positive light. Asking Greece for help is something almost all presidents have done, but making a request for military support to France, Germany and Italy is without precedent. In addition to the two frigates, France will be sending anti-missile and anti-drone defence systems. Greece has also stationed four F16 fighters on the island although it is difficult to know the purpose. It is more a morale-boosting exercise rather than a rational military decision, but helpful after events of the previous days.

Christodoulides, who met Greece’s Defence Minister Nikos Dendias at the presidential palace on Tuesday, thanked the Greek government, for “a particularly substantive as well as symbolic move.” He felt that Greece’s immediate response “opens the way for the European Union”, which had responded positively to Cyprus’ requests for help, but government spokesman Konstantinos Letymbiotis, avoided being drawn into discussions about an alleged revival of the unified defence dogma.

Letymbiotis had another job when briefing journalists on Tuesday. To give assurances, not for the first, second or third time, that the Cyprus Republic “never took part, is not taking part, nor will it take part in any war operation.” It would stick to serving its “humanitarian role as it has always been doing.”

This assurance has become rather frequent and betrays a government tendency for mixed signals. It is publicly welcoming the arrival of frigates from other countries to protect Cyprus from missile or drone attacks while at the same time reassuring everyone that the island is not a target and has played no part in the conflict.

All this talk about war and the announcement of the arrival of frigates from EU countries causes more harm than good, as does the setting up of a press centre at the presidential palace to brief journalists. All this gives the totally mistaken impression that Cyprus is directly involved and that it could be a target, which it does not seem to be. The British base in Akrotiri was hit by an exploding drone, which, like others that were intercepted, came from Lebanon, causing minimal damage, but that was it.

If the government does not want to be seen as a target, it should adopt a business as usual attitude. The arrival of frigates and warships to offer Cyprus protection will probably make people feel more secure, but they undermine the government narrative that Cyprus is not a target. If it is not, why has the president been to all major EU countries for military assistance?