Canada and Cyprus have signed an agreement on emergency evacuation procedures for Canadian citizens in response to potential threats arising from the ongoing conflict in Gaza and Israel, officials said on Tuesday.
The agreement, negotiated between Cypriot Foreign Minister Constantinos Kombos and Canadian Foreign Minister Mélanie Joly, outlines protocols for evacuating Canadians via Cyprus if the situation in the Middle East deteriorates.
Minister Kombos proposed initiating talks for a broader agreement on civilian evacuations, in line with Cyprus’s practice since 2020. Minister Joly accepted both the immediate agreement and the prospect of future negotiations.
“The agreement is yet another strong testament to the enduring friendship and solidarity that has united our countries and peoples for decades. I am deeply grateful for the generous hospitality during my visit in May, and I would like once again, on behalf of the Government of Canada, to thank the Government and the people of Cyprus for their unwavering support during these challenging times,” Joly said in a statement.
The Canadian Armed Forces have deployed resources to Cyprus to address potential emergency scenarios, according to the French Press Agency. This move will enable rapid evacuation of Canadian nationals if commercial flights cease due to escalating tensions.
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has urged Canadian citizens to leave Lebanon immediately, citing an “extremely dangerous situation” in the Middle East.
“It is the responsibility of all Canadians (who are there) to do everything they can to leave Lebanon while the airports are still open,” said Trudeau, emphasising that the risk of escalating violence between Israel and the Lebanese Hezbollah is “real.”
There are an estimated 20,000 Canadians in Lebanon, according to authorities. At the end of June, the Canadian government had advised against travel to the country, citing the “unstable and unpredictable” situation.
“We are aiming to be prepared for any eventuality,” Trudeau emphasised on Monday, but “the best thing Canadians can do is to avoid traveling to the Middle East.”
(information from CNA)
