The European Union’s mutual defence clause will be up for discussion over the coming days, the European Commission’s Chief Spokesperson Paula Pinho said on Monday, following Iranian-made drone strikes against Cyprus.

“It is certainly going to be discussed in the coming days in the various meetings that are foreseen. I cannot prejudge the outcome at this stage,” the EU official said, adding that no such discussion had yet taken place.

Under Article 42(7) of the Lisbon Treaty, if an EU country is the victim of armed aggression on its territory, “the other EU countries have an obligation to aid and assist it by all means in their power”.

The British military bases in Cyprus have reportedly come under more than 20 drone attacks since Saturday, one of which caused minor damage, the Cypriot government confirmed.

In addition, Paphos International Airport was evacuated on Monday amid warnings of a potential drone strike.

Cyprus is an EU member country currently holding the rotating EU presidency but it is not part of NATO.

Athens sends frigates, F-16 jets to Cyprus

Meanwhile, neighbouring Greece has been placed on high alert amid concerns that Iranian missiles could reach US military base at Souda Bay on the island of Crete.

Athens announced on Monday that two frigates and a pair of F-16 fighter jets would be deployed immediately to Cyprus in response to threats from Iran.

“Greece will contribute in every possible way to Cyprus’s defence in order to address threats and unlawful actions on its territory,” Defence Minister Nikos Dendias said.

The minister added that he would be travelling to Nicosia.

(jp)