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BB Incident: Member state support is a "deposit of Cyprus to the EU"

Published March 19, 2026, 20:14
BB Incident: Member state support is a "deposit of Cyprus to the EU"

Cyprus has the capability and operational efficiency to prevent a new incident similar to the one that occurred at the British bases, thanks to the military support provided by Italy, Greece, and France, as well as the contribution of Spain and the Netherlands. This response from EU member states constitutes, according to a government source, a "deposit of Cyprus" to the Union. The source emphasized that the immediate and strong response from member states sends multiple messages and serves as a point of reference. This response gave substance for the first time to Article 42 (7) of the Treaty on European Union, which provides for the obligation of member states to provide assistance in the event of an armed attack. Article 42 (7) states that member states must provide assistance and support with all means at their disposal in the event of an armed attack on a member state, without, however, affecting the special character of the security and defense policy of certain member states. The support of EU member states following the drone incident at Akrotiri Base demonstrates the readiness and solidarity within the EU on security matters.