Paris (AP) — French President Emmanuel Macron is traveling to Cyprus on Monday, days after dispatching a warship to the east Mediterranean island nation, where a Shahed drone struck a British air base on its southern coast last week during the Iran war.

Macron ordered the French frigate Languedoc to waters off Cyprus to bolster the European Union member country’s anti-drone and anti-missile defenses. The French president also decided to send ground-based anti-drone and anti-missile defenses to the island, which sustained the first drone attack on European territory.

France’s Charles de Gaulle aircraft carrier is also expected to arrive in the Eastern Mediterranean in the coming days.

Macron will meet with Cypriot President Nikos Christodoulides and Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis at Cyprus’ main air base on its southwestern edge, where four Greek air force F-16s have been deployed.

“Together with our European partners, the aim will be to strengthen security around Cyprus and in the Eastern Mediterranean,” a statement from Macron’s office said.

Macron has been deeply involved in diplomatic talks in recent days to try to avoid further escalation in the Middle East. On Sunday, he had talks with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian and urged him to stop strikes.

Cyprus government spokesman........

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