Russian ambassador criticizes NATO military presence near Cyprus

Russian Ambassador to Cyprus Murat Zyazikov stated that the accumulation of NATO military forces in the Eastern Mediterranean does not contribute to de-escalating regional tensions. The naval buildup followed a drone attack on the British Royal Air Force base in Akrotiri on March 2. Participating nations include the United Kingdom with HMS Dragon, France with the aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle and FS Languedoc, Greece with two frigates and four F-16 jets, and additional naval support from Italy, Spain, and the Netherlands. The United States is reported to have over 30 warships in the broader area. Zyazikov argued that these military deployments create security threats for Cyprus rather than providing protection. He emphasized that Cyprus is not a NATO member and highlighted the distinction between the European Union as a political-economic entity and a military alliance. The ambassador expressed support for the Cypriot government’s stated position of neutrality in ongoing military operations and reiterated that the United Nations remains the primary venue for international conflict resolution.