Greece and the Republic of Cyprus have been placed on heightened alert following a strike on a British military base in Akrotiri, on the southern coast of Cyprus, triggering swift diplomatic and military coordination between Athens and Nicosia.

Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis held a phone conversation with Cypriot President Nikos Christodoulides, as both governments assessed the unfolding situation. At the same time, Greece’s Minister of National Defense Nikos Dendias remained in constant contact with his Cypriot counterpart, Vasilis Palmas.

Following a decision by Greece’s Government Council for Foreign Affairs and Defense (KYSEA), Athens announced the immediate deployment of two frigates and a pair of F-16 fighter jets to Cyprus in a move aimed at reinforcing the island’s defensive posture.

In a public statement, Dendias condemned what he described as “unprovoked attacks on the territory of the Republic of Cyprus,” stressing that he had assured Palmas of Greece’s full support throughout the crisis. “Greece,” he said, “will contribute in every possible way to the defense of the Republic of Cyprus in order to confront threats and all illegal actions on its territory.”

As part of the deployment, the frigate HS Kimon is being dispatched immediately to Cyprus, along with a second frigate equipped with the “Centaur” system. The naval reinforcement will be accompanied by two F-16 fighter aircraft tasked with assisting in addressing the emerging security challenges.

Dendias is also scheduled to travel to Nicosia on Tuesday, March 3, accompanied by the Chief of the Hellenic National Defence General Staff, General Dimitrios Choupis, to ensure close coordination between Greek and Cypriot authorities. During his visit, the Greek defense minister will be received by president Christodoulides and will hold further talks with Palmas as the two countries deepen their joint response to the crisis.