Greek Foreign Minister George Gerapetritis reassured the public that the Souda naval base on Crete is not under immediate threat. Speaking late Thursday night (March 5, 2026) on SKAI TV, he emphasized that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is working “for the good of Greek citizens” currently in the Middle East.
He confirmed the continuation of repatriation operations for Greek nationals from the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, Oman, and other countries across the region — with daily flights expected to proceed as planned.
Regarding concerns over whether the Souda base falls within range of Iranian missiles, Gerapetritis offered a calm assessment: “I do not consider Souda to be under threat.”
On Greece’s military deployment in Cyprus, he described the stationing of the frigates Kimon and Psalis, alongside F-16 Viper fighter jets, as a “historic duty.” He stressed that this deployment “is not up for discussion — not even for notification — and serves purely defensive support purposes.”
Gerapetritis also dismissed Turkey’s objections to Greece’s installation of U.S.-made Patriot air defense systems on the island of Karpathos, calling Ankara’s claims “entirely unsubstantiated.”
Turning to the Strait of Hormuz, the minister underscored the critical importance of freedom of navigation. He noted that the European Union’s naval mission — Operation Aspides — is actively operating in the area. He warned that any de facto closure of the strait would pose a “massive issue” for global trade, energy security, and maritime safety.