Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis said his government’s immediate priority after an apparent drone attack targeted Cyprus was to bolster the defense of the east Mediterranean island republic, speaking two weeks after the start of an Israeli and US military bombardment of Iran, and the latter’s retaliatory strikes.
“We sent a clear message that Cyprus should not feel alone, and we mobilized other European countries as well, and even on our own, we would have supported Cyprus,” he said, speaking during an interview with the news site iefimerida.gr
Athens sent two frigates to Cypriot waters and deployed four F-16 warplanes to an airbase on the island.
Regarding the conflict, the Greek prime minister said that if the conflict is prolonged and affects the flow of oil and natural gas, there will also be consequences for the European and Greek economies. “We must be prepared for all possible scenarios,” he said.
In response to criticism from the political opposition in the country, he said:
“Fortunately, I am not (Pedro) Sánchez,” Mitsotakis said, adding that the position of his Greek government is to find a way for this war to end as soon as possible. Referring to Iran, the prime minister noted: “We are dealing with a regional power of instability, a theocratic regime that has essentially imposed a harsh dictatorship on its citizens. I do not believe I have any particular desire to align with or express special sympathy for this regime.”
“This crisis may last longer, and we may need to take additional measures. Consequently, we never deploy the full range of our interventions from the very first moment,” Mitsotakis said, referring to the government’s measures to combat profiteering.
Asked about the prospect of snap elections in the country, he said:
“I categorically reject any discussion of snap elections due to a rebound (by the ruling party) in the opinion polls. My goal is to complete the full term. Political stability is a comparative advantage for the country. I will not lead the country to early elections, risking this point, which shows that this government can make quick decisions and act in the interest of citizens.”
