Emmanuel Macron will travel to Cyprus on Monday to "show France's solidarity" with this European Union member state, recently targeted by drone and missile attacks in the context of the Middle East conflict, the Elysée announced.
The French president is scheduled to meet in Paphos with his Cypriot counterpart, Nikos Christodoulides, as well as Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis. This visit is intended, in particular, to strengthen European coordination on security in the Eastern Mediterranean and contribute to de-escalation in the region.
Paris has already deployed several military assets to the area, including the frigate Languedoc and air defense systems, as well as the aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle and a helicopter carrier. However, France has insisted on a "strictly defensive" posture since the outbreak of the war on February 28 between Iran, the United States, and Israel.
This trip also aims to coordinate European efforts to ensure the safety of citizens in the region and to support repatriation operations. According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, more than 4.300 people have already been able to return to France since the start of hostilities, while nearly 400.000 French citizens live or reside in the countries affected by the escalating conflict.
