Cyprus will not become a base for military operations, Defence Minister Vasilis Palmas said on Sunday, stressing that this is “clear and unequivocal,” and that Cyprus’ partners and friends are fully aware of this stance.

Speaking to journalists upon arriving at a memorial event honouring World War II volunteers from Anarita in Paphos, Palmas said the prolonged crisis in the region naturally causes concern for the citizens of the Republic of Cyprus and beyond.

He said Cyprus is a democratic and peaceful state that limits its activities to humanitarian and peacekeeping efforts. “We respond to requests for various evacuations and assist citizens of third countries and European states to return to their homelands,” he added.

Palmas said that as the conflict continues and more actors become involved, concerns inevitably grow. He stressed that Cyprus “must remain outside all of this and restrict its role to what it has committed itself to — humanitarian and peacekeeping activities.”

When asked about any requests from third countries, the defence minister said that daily issues arise, mostly related to assisting citizens of other countries, and Cyprus “responds efficiently and successfully” to such matters.

He added that whenever there are requests from different countries — whether concerning civilian or military support — Cyprus assumes its responsibilities, provided these remain within the peacekeeping framework. He noted that security issues remain a high priority due to the ongoing situation.

“I will repeat once again that Cyprus will not become a base for military operations. This is clear and unequivocal. Our partners and friends know this very well, and we will continue to conduct ourselves accordingly,” he said.

Asked about the recent arrest of a suspect on espionage and terrorism charges, Palmas said he would refrain from commenting “for the good of the authorities and all of us.” He added that Cyprus has been vigilant since the conflict began and is committed to ensuring the security of its citizens.