UK Defence Secretary, Grant Shapps, said on Friday that they were doing everything possible to ensure the safety and security of Cyprus, invited to comment on concerns regarding the security of the island, following operations launched from the British Bases in Akrotiri targeting Houthi forces.
Replying to journalists’ questions after his meeting with the President of the Republic of Cyprus, Nikos Christodoulides, and the Minister of Defence Vasilis Palmas, at the Presidential Palace, Shapps stated that the Houthi weapons, which haven’t even been able to reach Israel, posed no imminent danger to Cyprus. He emphasised the United Kingdom’s commitment to mitigating any potential threats, ensuring that actions were taken to diminish the capabilities of the Houthi forces.
“They certainly couldn’t reach Cyprus” Shapps stated, acknowledging the strategic importance of safeguarding the island’s security.
“We are doing everything possible to ensure the safety and security of Cyprus, which is in everybody’s interes
t” the Minister said. He acknowledged that Cyprus is in a “difficult neighborhood”, and said that “we want to do everything possible to make that easier.”
Moreover, Shapps underscored the importance of freedom of navigation in the region, a principle upheld, as he said, by both the United Kingdom and the Republic of Cyprus.
Regarding the transportation of humanitarian aid to Gaza, he praised President Christodoulides’ relevant initiative and mentioned that options are being examined to provide maximum humanitarian aid to the people of Gaza even more directly. One of the options he mentioned involves, instead of the aid going to Egypt, going directly to Israel and even using the Kerem Shalom crossing as a gateway.
The Defence Secretary also said that they discussed the commitment to providing aid to Gaza, with the UK having recently delivered 87 tonnes of aid via a Royal Navy ship named Lyme Bay, after Cyprus negotiated a way of doing this. Shapps expressed the desire to explore more direct routes for aid d
elivery and commended the Israeli government’s openness to utilising Kerem Shalom as a gateway, despite acknowledging the challenges.
‘It takes quite a lot of organization work but it would allow much larger volumes about to be delivered much more quickly’, he said.
He also praised Cyprus President’s leadership, expressing gratitude for the strategic initiatives that have facilitated a significantly larger volume of aid delivery compared to conventional methods, such as utilising an aircraft carrier.
Shapps said he had an excellent discussion with the President of Cyprus and also the Defence Minister saying that with such big events going on in the Middle East, ‘it makes sense for us to work very closely in cooperation, for the defence and security of everyone, not least Cyprus’.
He also said that they discussed the situation in Ukraine, expressing continued support for President Zelensky and the Ukrainian people and events of the last week in the Red Sea.
The Defence Secretary referred to his recent vis
it to the Red Sea, where he inspect the Royal Navy’s involvement in protecting merchant shipping.
Cyprus’ Defense Minister Vasilis Palmas said that he had a meeting with his British counterpart at the Ministry, where they exchanged views on all issues concerning the region and the war in Ukraine.
“I believe that our relations with Britain are constantly upgrading, and I think that in this dangerous environment we live in, it is imperative for democratic states, states that can create conditions and prerequisites for problem resolution, to cooperate,” he said.
When asked about the revival of the “Amalthea” plan for providing humanitarian aid to Gaza, Palmas referred to difficulties and problems that have arisen around the issue. However, he noted the willingness and intention of the Republic of Cyprus to support the Palestinian people.
“Beyond that, not everything that happens depends on us,” he added.
When asked if they discussed the use of Akrotiri Base regarding the Red Sea operations he said that they
haven’t discussed the issue.
When asked if a trip of a British ship to Gaza is soon to be scheduled, he mentioned that considerations are underway, although no final decision has been reached at this time.
Source: Cyprus News Agency