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Cyprus hosted a high-stakes trilateral summit Monday as French President Emmanuel Macron, Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis and Cypriot President Nikos Christodoulides met to discuss the widening war involving Iran and its growing impact on the Eastern Mediterranean and Europe.
The meeting took place at the “Andreas Papandreou” Air Base in Paphos, where the three leaders held closed-door talks before delivering brief remarks stressing the urgency of the moment.
Christodoulides described the region as entering a period of “serious instability,” warning that events unfolding in the Middle East are no longer confined to the region.
“Whatever happens in the Middle East has a wider impact,” he said, calling for the European Union to play a more active and coordinated role in the wider neighborhood.
“Our countries share the belief that the EU must engage more actively and more coherently with the region,” Christodoulides said, adding that such engagement should aim to strengthen security, stability and cooperation.
The Cypriot leader thanked both France and Greece for their swift support and stressed that the security of Cyprus is closely tied to Europe’s security as a whole.
“Security of Cyprus also means security of Europe,” he said.
Christodoulides also sought to clarify Cyprus’ role amid the escalating crisis, emphasizing that the island is not participating in military operations. Instead, he said Cyprus remains committed to playing a humanitarian role and acting as a bridge between Europe and the Middle East.
“Our position is clear: we do not engage in military operations,” he said. “Our country is a bridge of cooperation between Europe and the region.”
He added that Cyprus understands the consequences of conflict all too well, referencing the island’s own history.
“We know very well what war means. Our country is paying the heavy price of occupation,” he said.
During the meeting, the leaders also highlighted the longstanding ties between Cyprus and Greece, while Christodoulides described France as a strong strategic partner for the island.
The summit unfolded against a rapidly evolving backdrop of war in the Middle East. Military strikes between Israel and Iran have intensified in recent days, raising fears that the conflict could spread further across the region. Several European countries have already increased their naval presence in the Eastern Mediterranean, while France has deployed additional military assets and its aircraft carrier, the French aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle, to the area.
Macron is expected to visit the aircraft carrier later Monday.
Beyond immediate security concerns, the leaders also discussed broader regional issues, including the safety of shipping routes and energy stability, as the conflict continues to push oil prices higher and threaten key maritime corridors.
The trilateral meeting concluded in the afternoon, with the three leaders expected to continue coordinating closely as the crisis unfolds.
