Cyprus and Greece stand united and will “always be part of the solution” in the context of ongoing tensions in the region, President Nikos Christodoulides said on Tuesday after meeting Greek Defence Minister Nikos Dendias at the palace.

“Greece declares itself present once again. A move of particularly substantial but also symbolic importance. A move that paves the way for the European Union. Because your immediate response is followed by other European states,” Christodoulides said.

“I spoke with the French president. There was a response. I am in contact with the Chancellor of Germany and the Prime Minister of Italy. And this also shows the way in which Greece is paving the way for how the European Union should respond,” he added.

Dendias, chief of the Hellenic National Defence staff, general Dimitrios Choupis and Cyprus Defence Minister Vasilis Palmas had earlier met at the presidential palace in Nicosia to discuss developments in the region after missiles were fired by the United States, Israel and Iran.

On Monday evening four Greek F-16 fighter jets and one C-130 military aircraft arrived in Cyprus while two frigates, the Psara and the Kimon, are on the way to the island to bolster its defence infrastructure. They were sent after a Hezbollah launched drone struck the Akrotiri air base.

Christodoulides expressed his gratitude for Greece’s “immediate response to our request, at a difficult time for the Republic of Cyprus”, lauding bilateral efforts that see “many opportunities that can be exploited through the cooperation.”

Both Cyprus and Greece, he added prove in practice they are not part of the problem, “we are always part of the solution and we will face this difficult situation together, hoping that normal conditions will soon prevail in our region”.

Dendias reaffirmed Greece’s commitment to supporting the island. “Greece will always stand by the Republic of Cyprus,” he said.

“These are indeed difficult times for our wider region. However, Greece wants to state in the most categorical way, its intention to provide, as far as possible and within its powers and capabilities, any help it can to Cyprus, to the Cypriot people, to all the legal residents of the Republic of Cyprus,” Dendias added.

Speaking after meeting Palmas, he reiterated Greece’s support to the island, stressing his government would “contribute in every possible way to the defence of the Republic of Cyprus.”

He emphasised that neither Greece nor Cyprus participated in military operations against the Iranian regime and said that the targeting of uninvolved parties must be avoided.

“Cyprus is not far away, and today the Greek government is proving that Cyprus is close,” Dendias said.

Palmas underlined Greece’s position as the Republic’s most important supporter and partner “in all areas.”

“Recognising this reality, with the defence ministry of Greece we have developed close coordination and are in daily consultation,” he said.

During their meeting, Palmas briefed the Dendias on the Republic’s current security situation, reiterating that “Cyprus did not participate, is not participating and will not be part of any military operation.”

“As the Republic of Cyprus, we have established over time our stance on defence and security issues, on full respect and compliance with international law, on investing in strategic alliances and on the peaceful resolution of disputes,” he said.

Support has also been confirmed by France, which will deploy anti-missile and anti-drone systems to Cyprus, along with a frigate, to strengthen the island’s defence capabilities.

Christodoulides also requested that Germany deploy a frigate to Cyprus during a telephone conversation on Monday with Chancellor Friedrich Merz. Merz responded positively, with the German government expected to proceed with a final decision on the matter soon.

The Greek vessels Psara and Kimon are equipped with the Centavros combat system, which can detect and “neutralise” drone threats.

The system has previously been utilised to intercept drones belonging to the Iran-backed Yemeni Houthi militia in the Red Sea in 2024.

It has since been fully incorporated with Israel’s Barak MX air defence system, which was obtained by the Republic of Cyprus in 2025.

The buying of the system had prompted harsh criticism from Turkey which warned of “dangerous consequences”, with an anonymous rear admiral describing the Republic as “a complete proxy for the US and Israel” in a comment to the BBC.