Cyprus found itself in the world’s spotlight this week, with Hezbollah leaders threatening to target the tiny island nation if it supports Israel’s potential war efforts.
Hezbollah leaders warned on Wednesday that the armed group would punish Cyprus if it allows Israel to use its airports and bases to target Lebanon, as violence intensifies between Iran-backed Lebanese militias and Israeli troops on the Israel-Lebanon border. “Part of the war”.
The warning from Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah comes as world leaders scramble to contain the conflict between Israel and Hezbollah, even as both sides are clearly trying to prevent a cycle of strikes and counterattacks from escalating into an all-out war.
Here’s a detailed look at how Cyprus got into trouble.
What is the relationship between Cyprus and Israel?
Cyprus and Israel share economic, political and strategic ties. According to the Cypriot Ministry of Defense, the two countries’ militaries have conducted joint exercises and exchanged visits, and the two countries have also developed defense cooperation plans. Cyprus has similar relations with many other countries, including the United Kingdom, Egypt, France, and especially Lebanon.
Cyprus also has “defence attachés” in Israel and about two dozen other countries as part of what it calls “active defense diplomacy.”
There is an additional cooperation agreement between Cyprus, Greece and Israel, which Cyprus says aims to “strengthen peace, stability and security in the Eastern Mediterranean”.
How does Cyprus respond to the threat from Hezbollah?
Cypriot President Nicos Christodoulides posted on social media on Wednesday that Cyprus was “not involved in any way in the war conflict.” Cyprus maintains lines of communication with the Lebanese and Iranian governments, he added, stressing the importance of diplomacy.
Cyprus helps deliver humanitarian aid to Gaza by sea, and the U.S. military also uses the island nation to deliver aid to the war-torn territory.
In his statement, Christodoulides stressed that Cyprus was “part of the solution,” an apparent allusion to the country’s efforts to help deliver aid to Gaza.
How did the world react?
On Thursday, Lebanese government officials sought to allay the concerns of their Cypriot counterparts and reassure them of Lebanon’s commitment to peace. While Hezbollah is a powerful political force in Lebanon, its parliamentary bloc lost its majority in the 2022 national elections and its positions do not always represent the government’s official position.
Cyprus’ other allies also condemned the threat from Hezbollah.
EU spokesman Peter Stano said on Thursday that Cyprus is a member of the EU expressed support for Cyprussaying “any threat against our member states is a threat against the EU.”
U.S. State Department spokesman Matthew Miller called Nasrallah’s comments “unproductive.”
“We hope that Hezbollah will seek a diplomatic solution,” he added at a news conference on Thursday.
