European Commission spokesman Peter Stano said on Thursday that a threat against Cyprus was tantamount to a threat against the entire European Union, after Hezbollah Secretary-General Hassan Nasrallah threatened the island nation the previous day with reprisals if it opened its airports or bases to Israel “to target Lebanon.”

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Mr. Stano pointed out that, because Cyprus belongs to the Union, “the EU is Cyprus and Cyprus is the EU.”

He said the EU fully supported Nicosia, while being in contact with “a number of partners in the region,” including Hezbollah, to defuse tensions.

“Any threat against one of our Member States is a threat against the EU,” he added.

Cyprus rejects accusations

At the same time, Cyprus government spokesman Konstantinos Letymbiotis dismissed as “totally groundless” any suggestion of possible involvement in a conflict related to Lebanon.

Cypriot President Nikos Christodoulides also refuted the accusations made by the leader of the pro-Iranian formation. “The Republic of Cyprus does not take part in hostilities in any way,” he declared.

“And our role, as manifested for example through the humanitarian corridor, is recognized not only by the Arab world, but also by the entire international community,” he added.

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In recent years, Nicosia has enjoyed increasingly close relations with Israel, following the discovery of undersea natural gas deposits in the waters between the two neighbors. The island nation has hosted joint Israeli-Cypriot military exercises, but has not taken part in any military operations.

It also houses two British bases, including an airbase, but they are in sovereign British territory and not controlled by the Cypriot government.