Cyprus accepts invitation to attend President Trump’s Board of Peace meeting on Gaza as an observer on February 19 in Washington, highlighting its key regional role in stability and peace efforts despite its small size.
Tag: EU foreign policy
February 12, 2026By Greek City Times Staff JERUSALEM / RAMALLAH – The European Union has…
Minister George Gerapetritis reaffirmed Athens’ and the EU’s total rejection of the 2019 Turkey-Libya maritime memorandum during talks with Libyan House of Representatives President Aguila Saleh in Athens.
Turkey will miss the deadline to join the EU’s €150 billion SAFE defense mechanism, as the European Commission says its application cannot be processed in time. Political resistance from Greece, Cyprus, and France further complicates Ankara’s bid, while UK negotiations collapsed over funding demands, leaving Canada as the only partner still in talks.
Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan are expected to meet…
EU top diplomat Kaja Kallas criticizes the Turkey-Libya maritime agreement, stating it violates third countries’ sovereign rights and does not comply with international law, including UNCLOS. She stresses the EU’s interest in a stable Eastern Mediterranean.
The EU faces growing pressure from Greece and Italy to address the escalating Libya crisis, driven by migration surges and foreign influence. Amid diplomatic tensions and regional instability concerns, the issue will be discussed at the EU foreign ministers’ meeting, with Athens and Rome urging stronger action despite limited success.
Greek Defense Minister Nikos Dendias has warned that the EU’s proposed SAFE regulation could serve as a “backdoor” for third countries—particularly Turkey—to access European defense initiatives without consensus from all member states. Citing security concerns and Ankara’s ongoing threats toward Greece, Dendias urged the EU to maintain unity and uphold shared principles in its defense policy.
French Armed Forces Minister Sébastien Lecornu met with Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis in Athens to reaffirm the deepening strategic defence ties between Greece and France. The visit focused on strengthening bilateral cooperation, enhancing European defence capabilities, and supporting the EU’s push for strategic autonomy through initiatives like the ReArm plan.
