The escalating crisis in the Middle East, compounded by the outbreak of armed conflict and the bombing of Iran, has placed Greek diplomacy and the country’s Armed Forces on heightened alert.

In response to the rapidly shifting security landscape, Athens has moved swiftly to bolster its military presence in the region. Two Greek F-16 Block fighter jets, alongside the frigates “Kimon” and “Psara,” are scheduled to arrive in Cyprus on Wednesday morning.

Additionally, a Patriot missile battery will be deployed to the island of Karpathos, in the southeastern Aegean, on Tuesday, March 3, reinforcing air defense capabilities amid mounting regional instability.

Greek Defense Minister Nikos Dendias is traveling urgently to Cyprus today, accompanied by Chief of the Hellenic National Defence General Staff, General Dimitris Choupis. The visit underscores the seriousness with which Athens views the unfolding developments.

According to Dendias, Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis has held a telephone conversation with Cypriot President Nikos Christodoulides. The Greek defense minister has also maintained continuous contact over the past two days with his Cypriot counterpart, Vasilis Palmas.

Dendias is scheduled to be received by President Christodoulides at 11:00 a.m., followed by joint statements to the press. He will also meet with Defense Minister Palmas for further consultations.

The developments come after Cyprus intercepted two drones near the British base at Akrotiri, prompting the activation of the longstanding joint defense doctrine between Greece and Cyprus — a framework designed to ensure coordinated military readiness in times of crisis.