French President Macron promises to defend Cyprus in visit after drone attacks

Macron gave his statement of support during a visit to Paphos, where the French president met with Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, as well as Cyprus President Nikos Christodoulides.

French President Emmanuel Macron promised that Europe would protect Cyprus, the first state on the continent to be directly affected by the Iran war, The Guardian reported on Monday.

Macron gave his statement of support during a visit to Paphos, a city in Cyprus, where the French president met with Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, as well as Cyprus President Nikos Christodoulides.

“The defense of Cyprus is obviously a key issue for your country, for your neighbor, partner and friend, Greece, but also for France and, with it, the European Union,” Macron said, with Mitsotakis adding that “We will not accept that the slightest piece of European territory, like Cyprus, be exposed to danger.”

Macron’s visit, the Guardian reported, came one week after Cyprus was targeted by several combat drones apparently sent from Lebanon.

Two of the drones were intercepted by British jets, the Guardian said. The third drone crashed into a British air base on the island, where several US reconnaissance planes were reportedly being held.

France, allies, to prepare mission to reopen Strait of Hormuz

Macron also announced, during his time on the island, that France, along with its allies, would prepare a “purely defensive, purely support mission” in order to reopen the Strait of Hormuz.

The Strait, Macron declared, was “essential for international trade, but also for the flow of gas and oil, which must be able to leave this region once again.”