(Adnkronos) – Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani has confirmed his support and solidarity with the government of Cyprus , a European Union member state targeted by an Iranian drone strike on a UK air base on the island in March, saying Rome wants to boost energy cooperation with Nicosia, and announcing that it will hold a ‘Peace Regatta’ open to all Mediterranean countries.
In a phone conversation with the President of the Republic of Cyprus, Nikos Christodoulides, Tajani confirmed Italy’s desire to strengthen bilateral collaboration on energy – a strategic sector for both countries and for the entire eastern Mediterranean, the foreign ministry said in a statement on Thursday.
“Italy and Cyprus also intend to work together to strengthen the Mediterranean segment of IMEC (The India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor), a major strategic project to connect India to Europe via alternative routes to existing ones,” Tajani noted.
Tajani also announced a “Peace Regatta” off Cyprus open to crews from all Mediterranean countries that the Italy’s embassy led by ambassador Antonella Cavallari, will organise alongside the 38th America’s Cup taking place in Naples in July 2027.
The initiative, which is being promoted ahead of the 38th America’s Cup, is expected to draw dozens of boats, which will compete on a route between Agia Napa and Limassol in a race “that aims to highlight the value of sport as a unifying force in a region where conflict and tensions currently pose a serious threat”, the statement concluded.
Tajani was in Limassol, Cyprus for an informal EU foreign ministers’ meeting centred on the escalating Middle East conflict triggered by the United States-Israel war on Iran, which began in late February, choking oil, gas and fertiliser supplies in the key Strait of Hormuz waterway and roiling global markets in an energy shock that is driving inflation risks.
Indian external affairs minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar and Saudi foreign minister Faisal bin Farhan joined the EU foreign ministers for Thursday’s meeting hosted by rotating EU Council president Cyprus.
