France will deploy anti-missile and anti-drone systems to Cyprus, the Mediterranean island's government said Tuesday, following a drone attack on a British base.After four Greek F-16 fighter jets arrived on the island and two Greek frigates set sail for Cypriot waters, government spokesman Konstantinos Letymbiotis said Cyprus had secured additional backing from key EU partners.
"France's assistance has been finalised and concerns a frigate equipped with anti-ballistic and anti-drone systems," he said.
Contacted by AFP, the French army declined to comment.
Letymbiotis added that "Germany's initial response is positive and we await its official, final confirmation".
A British Royal Air Force (RAF) base in Cyprus was attacked early Monday by Iranian-made drones, one of which hit the runway, according to officials.
On Sunday, UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced that he had agreed to a US request to use British military bases for a "specific and limited defensive purpose".
But in comments to parliament on Monday, he said this would not include bases on the Mediterranean island.
Nicosia has said it would seek guarantees that British bases in Cyprus would only be used for humanitarian purposes.
Cyprus "neither participated nor will participate in any military operation", Letymbiotis said, adding that Nicosia's role remained "strictly humanitarian".
