Meloni says Europe must not be drawn into war

The conflict between the United States and Israel on one side and Iran on the other has spread beyond the Persian Gulf to the Mediterranean. On Monday, a drone explosion hit the British military base at Akrotiri in Cyprus. The escalation has also unsettled global markets and sharply increased oil and gas prices.

Italy, Spain, France and the Netherlands plan to send naval units to the area in the coming days to help protect Cyprus. French President Emmanuel Macron discussed co-ordinating action with the prime ministers of Italy and Greece.

European governments stress that they do not want to become directly involved in the war. ‘We are not at war and we do not want to enter one’, said Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni.

Britain plans to send a destroyer and helicopters capable of countering drones to the region. According to Western officials, the drone that struck the Akrotiri base was likely launched from Lebanon by the Iranian-backed Hezbollah group.

Spain has also announced that it will send the frigate Cristóbal Colón to Cyprus to reinforce air defences. European countries are also considering further measures to protect shipping in the region.

(reuters, est)