Foreign Minister Wadephul has travelled to Cyprus on an official visit to discuss the current security situation in the Middle East with his Cypriot counterpart Constantinos Kombos.

Cyprus is an important and close partner for Germany in the European Union and plays a key role in European security and foreign policy on account of its geostrategic location in the eastern Mediterranean. Not only has the island established itself as a stable actor in the region in recent years, it has also repeatedly served as a hub for evacuations during crises – a role that is currently of crucial importance given its proximity to the parts of the Middle East where tensions are high.

The latest events, in particular the Iranian drone attack on a UK military base in Cyprus, have made clear once more that the war in the Middle East is not a crisis that can be sealed off, but rather one that directly affects Europe. In this context, Foreign Minister Wadephul reiterated Germany’s full solidarity with Cyprus and paid tribute to the country’s level-headed and responsible stance in this tense situation.

Foreign Minister Wadephul also held talks in Cyprus with his counterpart from the United Arab Emirates, Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed. They discussed both the tense security situation in the Gulf region and the joint efforts to prevent an energy and oil crisis, which would adversely affect the entire world.

Joint responsibility for security in Europe

In addition to discussing the developments in the Middle East, Foreign Minister Wadephul spoke with his Cypriot counterpart about the security challenges affecting Europe as a whole. Cyprus currently holds the Presidency of the Council of the European Union under the motto “An Autonomous Union. Open to the World.” and has thus made the expansion of Europe’s defence capabilities a clear priority. In view of the continuing threat posed by Russia, supporting Ukraine and protecting NATO’s eastern flank, for example via the German brigade in Lithuania, remain vital for Germany.

In this context, Foreign Minister Wadephul underlined the importance of continuing to step up the pressure on Russia and of supporting Ukraine across the board, both militarily and with humanitarian assistance. Cooperation and cohesion in the EU remain essential as regards guaranteeing European security in the long term. Cyprus can make an important contribution towards achieving this.

EU enlargement and geopolitical challenges

EU enlargement and the long-term direction of the Union were further key topics during the talks. At a time of geopolitical tensions both in eastern and southeastern Europe, the question of credible accession prospects for the countries of the Western Balkans and for Ukraine and Moldova is becoming ever more urgent. Germany thus actively supports clear enlargement prospects, which not only further these countries’ political and economic integration, but can also make them part of Europe’s security architecture in the long term.

The new geopolitical realities also make it necessary to adapt the upcoming EU financial framework. Germany calls for a dynamic and flexible new direction that will enable the Union to respond appropriately to the current security challenges and at the same time to promote European competitiveness. A financial framework that sets clear priorities for defence, security and economic stability will be of crucial importance for the EU’s ability to act in the coming years.