British journalists, TV presenters, and analysts welcomed on social media the news of Greece’s defensive assistance to Cyprus, following the decision of the Government Council for Foreign Affairs and Defence (KYSEA), which met last Saturday under Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis. The council examined possible scenarios regarding the outcome of the war in Iran, as well as the actions deemed necessary from the Greek side under such circumstances.

With two pairs of F-16 fighter jets already on readiness at the “Andreas Papandreou” base and two frigates — the FDI Kimon and Psara — having departed at 11 p.m. yesterday from the Salamis Naval Base for the Republic of Cyprus, as part of reinforced precautionary measures for its defense amid developments in the wider region, military sources said the enthusiasm in United Kingdom over Greece’s stance is unmistakable.

“Soft power”

“Given that Britain is more or less incapable of defending anything these days, it’s good to see the Greeks,” commented British journalist and broadcaster Andrew Neil on X. A similar sentiment prevails among analysts, with Greece gaining ground in terms of “soft power” through its defensive support for the island.

At the same time, under the headline “I’m very disappointed in Keir,” The Daily Telegraph published exclusive remarks by U.S. President Donald Trump regarding British Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s initial refusal to allow the use of the Diego Garcia base by U.S. armed forces.

Trump’s criticism focuses on the fact that the British Prime Minister “took too long” to give the green light, delaying operations despite the traditionally close bilateral ties between the two countries.