Is Europe in danger?

Speaking about the Greek military presence in Cyprus, Gerapetritis said in an interview with SKAI television that the mission of the frigates “Kimon” and “Psaras”, as well as the F-16 Viper fighter jets, represents a “historic responsibility” and that the deployment of forces is solely a defensive measure.

“Any targeting of Cyprus represents a threat to all of Europe; it encourages the duty of solidarity toward Cyprus,” Gerapetritis said.

Asked about the possibility that the Souda naval base could be within the range of Iranian missiles, Gerapetritis stressed that the Souda base is protected by the defense agreement between the United States and Greece and that all measures have been taken to ensure the facilities remain secure, including the American installations located on the base’s territory.

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“The Souda base is governed by the defense agreement between the U.S. and Greece. What can be done within the base is very specific: primarily securing U.S. facilities so that they are not vulnerable to aggressive actions. I want to assure you that all necessary measures have been taken, both by the Americans and by Greece. We all understand that the crisis in the wider Middle East region has implications for security,” he said.

He also stated that evacuations of Greek citizens from the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, Oman, and other areas are ongoing, describing the repatriation as “the most complex task the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has faced in recent decades.”

The Greek minister added that airspace in these regions is only partially and sporadically open, which further complicates operations.

Gerapetritis rejected Turkey’s criticisms regarding the installation of the MIM-104 Patriot system on Karpathos, calling them “completely unfounded.”

He also emphasized the importance of unhindered navigation through the Strait of Hormuz, warning that its closure would have serious consequences for the global economy and the safety of seafarers.

Finally, the Greek minister criticized the European Union’s stance, stating that European solidarity has “now shifted from something obvious to something merely desired.”