Foreign Minister Constantinos Kombos on Monday stressed the need for the EU to strengthen its presence and role in the Middle East, warning that the ongoing war should no longer be viewed as a purely regional conflict.

Speaking ahead of a meeting of the EU Foreign Affairs Council in Brussels, Kombos said the conflict has global implications, particularly for Europe.

“We must move away from the illusion that this is a regional conflict. It is global and affects Europe in terms of energy, sea routes and maritime security,” he said.

He pointed to the priorities of Cyprus’ EU presidency, which include a focus on the Middle East, the Gulf and maritime security.

“We did not have a crystal ball, but unfortunately these priorities have now become a real necessity,” he added.

Kombos said the EU must become more active in the region and expressed solidarity with the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) and Lebanon, calling for progress on pending commitments, including trade-related issues.

“As the EU, we must be more present and more active in relation to this conflict. We must also extend our strong solidarity to the GCC and to Lebanon regarding the commitments we have undertaken. There are outstanding issues related to trade. I believe now is the time to move quickly,” he said.

The minister also said EU foreign ministers held an initial exchange of views on a new European security strategy, stressing that the process should be broad and inclusive.

“It was a timely and useful discussion. This must be an inclusive process, with a 360-degree approach,” he said.

Asked about the possible expansion of a European security mission in the Strait of Hormuz, Kombos stated that “this is an issue we will discuss later. It is an idea on the table and we need to examine the various details related to its practical implementation and whether it could work. At the end of the day, we must try to find a practical solution, always within the framework of realism and the fact that there is an ongoing conflict,” he said.

He added that he would not take a public position at this stage due to Cyprus’ role as EU presidency.

Asked what he meant by describing the conflict as global rather than regional, Kombos said its impact is already visible on multiple levels.

“I believe this is clearly a conflict with global impact. We see it across different areas of activity and it affects Europe. We cannot disconnect what is happening in our part of the world, in the region, from what is happening in Ukraine,” he said.

He also noted that the situation in the Gulf has mobilised all international actors.

“Anyone with geopolitical ambitions currently has a role to play in relation to the situation in the Gulf. Everyone is active. Therefore, the EU’s ambition to be a geopolitical player, as well as a global economic one, means we must be present and active and find ways to intervene, always steering towards de-escalation and diplomacy,” he said.

On whether a mission to ensure security in the Strait of Hormuz should be European or conducted through Nato, Kombos stressed the complexity of the situation.

“The question must be how we can ensure freedom of navigation in a way that facilitates the global economy. We must also bear in mind that there is an ongoing conflict there, so there are very serious security issues,” he said.

He added that a return to the previous situation should not be expected in the near future.

“I do not expect there will be a solution that returns us to the previous situation. There will be a period that we need to manage. This is a very complex situation and we must shape our approach in direct, clear and close contact with our partners in the Gulf,” he said.