The Minister of Defence’s statements about the USA and Israel reveal dangerous illusions

 

The Christodoulides government’s policy and rhetoric regarding the military relations with the US and Israel constitute a game of fire, to the detriment of Cyprus’ interests and security. The advertised engagement with NATO and the US involvement in the upgrading of the “Andreas Papandreou” air base and the “Evangelos Florakis” naval base constitute the involvement of the country in the militarization of the Eastern Mediterranean and add risks and threats to the security of our country and our people.

The Minister of Defence’s statements that “the Israelis can be in Cyprus in three minutes. On the contrary, it takes some time for Greece to provide support” reveal dangerous illusions and raise new questions about the role that the Christodoulides government reserves for the State of Israel. A large section of the public understandably wonders whether the island has become an “unguarded vineyard” for the military forces and secret services of the Israeli state.

AKEL stresses that the country’s infrastructure and defence capabilities are intended to serve Cyprus and its interests, not foreign powers and foreign interests.