Security perceptions within the EU remain highly fragmented, reflecting divergent historical experiences and national threat assessments. For Cyprus, Turkey remains the main threat, having occupied 37% of the island since 1974. Turkey’s actions and overall revisionist objectives under the traffic lights analogy constitute a ‘red’ threat to the Republic of Cyprus. Ankara refuses to recognise the Republic of Cyprus and thus continues to employ hybrid forms of warfare against this island-state. These circumstances underline the existential nature of Cyprus’s problem alongside the broader difficulty of developing a common European security and defence policy. The EU’s limited and often inconsistent responses weaken its credibility and raise questions about its ability to act as a coherent international actor. The EU must articulate clear principles, address aggression against Member States without exception and adopt a comprehensive strategy that links all issues with the wider debate on Europe’s security architecture and regional stability.