Patriot batteries are being moved to Karpathos to reinforce Greece's air defences amid tensions in the Middle East, according to information reported on 3 March.
The development came as Defence Minister Nikos Dendias travelled to Cyprus.
Dendias' visit to Cyprus
The announced programme provided for an 11am meeting with President Nikos Christodoulides at the Presidential Palace, a noon meeting with Cypriot Defence Minister Vasilis Palmas followed by press statements at the Defence Ministry, and a 1.05pm meeting with Archbishop Georgios of New Justiniana and All Cyprus.
The deployment forms part of the activation of Greece and Cyprus' joint defence doctrine following the interception of two drones targeting the British base at Akrotiri on Monday.
Two Greek frigates expected
Cyprus remained on alert following a strike at Akrotiri shortly after midnight on Sunday and the interception of two further drones on 2 March.
The Belharra frigate Kimon sailed for Cyprus on Monday evening, 2 March, in what the report described as effectively its first operational mission, aimed at strengthening the island's air defence.
It is being supported by the frigate Psara and four F-16 aircraft already stationed at Andreas Papandreou Air Base in Paphos, according to the Defence Ministry.
Mr Dendias is visiting Cyprus on Tuesday 3 March with Chief of the Hellenic National Defence General Staff General Dimitrios Choupis.
The Minister said Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis had spoken by telephone with President Christodoulides. He had also remained in continuous contact over the previous two days with his Cypriot counterpart, Vasilis Palmas.
Further activity was observed at Akrotiri on Monday evening.
A Cypriot government source told Agence France-Presse that the Iranian-made drones which struck the British base had been launched from neighbouring Lebanon.
Possible French Rafale deployment
Deputy Government Spokesman Giannis Antoniou told Sigma television that the possible arrival of French Rafale fighters remained under discussion.
He said the government was consulting on the matter, while stressing: “We do not want a concentration of large forces,” as command issues could arise.
