Akel gave full vent to its anti-West, anti-American prejudices last week after the American warship USS Wasp arrived in Limassol. The party issued several announcements, warning that the government was putting the security of the country at risk, by offering facilities to the US military.

In a strongly worded announcement on Friday, it said: “The Christodoulides government should consider the dangers created for our country and people by the continuing concentration of foreign military forces on our island, as part of their war plans and operations. Akel calls on the government to consider the dangers to the security of the country, which are caused and multiplied by this involvement and services offered to the US military forces.”

The government responded with the well-worn argument that Akel should not “unquestioningly adopt views that aim to hurt the country”, and repeated the soundbite that the Republic is not part of the problem but part of the solution, claiming this was recognised by the international community. Akel did not give up, demanding an answer to the question of whether “the use of the bases and the facilities of the Republic by the US –  especially at such a critical time – turns Cyprus into a bridge of peace as the government claims or constitutes it part of the problem?”

There was also a demonstration in an area of Limassol close to the port by anti-war activists protesting about the presence of the USS Wasp, but opposition party Disy stood by the government. Party leader Annita Demetriou said that the “questioning of the country’s Western orientation, diminishes its geopolitical role and blatantly harms the national interest.” She also took a swipe at Akel, saying the party’s prejudices “could only lead us to isolation”.

Later in the day, the defence ministry issued an announcement saying the increased activity from forces of “friendly countries” concerned the country’s humanitarian role exclusively, which has been emphasised repeatedly. The government also repeatedly expressed its support for efforts aimed at securing a ceasefire and the release of hostages. Yet, it avoided mentioning the obvious, as if it were embarrassed to do so.

It failed to state that the US was a close ally of Cyprus which was happy to provide facilities when these were requested. It could have mentioned, as the US ambassador had done on the ‘X’ platform, that the docking of the USS Wasp was part of long-planned partnership activity between the two countries. This would have silenced Akel, which, interestingly, never protested about the docking of Russian warships in Limassol when Russia was waging war in Syria.

In the end, Defence Minister Vasilis Palmas took a clear stand on behalf of the government on Sunday when asked about movements at the Paphos air base. “We are providing facilities to friendly countries and last week we had a joint military exercise with the US,” he said. This was what the government spokesman should have been saying instead of trying to appease Akel with generalities about the humanitarian role.

The government should be proud it has strengthened Cyprus’ relations with the US and explain that these stronger ties also create obligations.