Defense Minister Nikos Dendias on Monday announced that the Hellenic Navy frigate “Kimon”, along with a second Navy frigate equipped with the ‘Centaur’ system and a pair of F-16 fighter jets are being “immediately dispatched to the Republic of Cyprus… to assist in its defense against the threats it is facing,” following a decision by the Government Council on National Security (KYSEA).

Dendias’ statement was as follows:

“ The Prime Minister of Greece, Kyriakos Mitsotakis, spoke a short while ago with the President of the Republic of Cyprus, Nikos Christodoulides. Over the past two days, I have been in constant communication with my counterpart, the Minister of Defense of the Republic of Cyprus, Vasilis Palmas.

Following the unprovoked attacks on the territory of the Republic of Cyprus, I assured Mr. Palmas that Greece, throughout the duration of the current crisis, will contribute in every possible way to the defense of the Republic of Cyprus in order to address the threats and illegal actions on its territory.

Subsequently, and in accordance with a decision of KYSEA, the frigate ‘Kimon’ is being immediately dispatched to the Republic of Cyprus, along with a second Greek frigate carrying the ‘Centaur’ system. In addition, a pair of F-16 fighter jets are being dispatched to the Republic of Cyprus to assist in its defense against the threats it faces.

For better coordination of actions with the Republic of Cyprus, I will travel tomorrow, together with the Chief of the Hellenic National Defense General Staff, General Dimitrios Choupis, to Cyprus, where I will be received by President Christodoulides and will hold discussions with Vasilis Palmas”