Cyprus has secured funding exceeding €1.18 billion for defence through the European Union’s SAFE regulation, Government Spokesman Konstantinos Letymbiotis announced on Friday.
According to the Presidency, Letymbiotis told journalists during a media briefing at the Presidential Palace that the Republic of Cyprus is actively participating in the SAFE regulation established by the European Union to provide financial assistance to member states for immediate defence needs and collective security enhancement.
“This decision acquires particular significance in light of the international situation,” he emphasised.
Cyprus receives substantial allocation
Letymbiotis noted that Cyprus submitted its intention to use the mechanism in time, and on 9 September 2025 the European Commission announced the allocation of amounts, with Cyprus’s share totalling €1,181,503,924.
This amount is particularly high relative to the size of the Republic of Cyprus, “a fact that demonstrates both the trust towards our country and our ability to maximise the use of European tools for strengthening defence and our deterrent power,” he said.
The spokesman said the Ministry of Defence, in cooperation with the General Staff of the National Guard, is processing the list of armaments programmes to be included in the investment plan, which will be submitted to the European Commission by 30 November 2025 at the latest.
A preliminary list already exists, which will be finalised in the coming period, taking into account the National Guard’s operational priorities and the government’s strategic targeting, he added.
Five-year programme details
Letymbiotis explained the SAFE programme is five years in duration, averaging approximately €220-230 million annually, amounts that will be adapted to the Republic of Cyprus’s needs and capabilities.
He also spoke about the particular priority of strengthening the Cypriot defence industry. The government seeks to utilise these programmes to boost domestic production, strengthen extroversion and create synergies contributing to both National Guard enhancement and Cyprus’s participation in European and international defence value chains.
US cooperation programmes launched
Simultaneously, the Republic of Cyprus is utilising the opportunity offered by the recent United States decision to include Cyprus in defence programmes, such as Excess Defense Articles (EDA) and Foreign Military Sales (FMS), he said.
Cyprus has already addressed the US Pentagon with a verbal note requesting specific weapons systems from surplus American armed forces stocks, within the framework of its planning to strengthen the National Guard, he said.
National Guard teams will travel to the United States in the coming period to inspect and closely evaluate the weapons systems, the spokesman said.
Strategic partnership with Washington
He stated this strategic cooperation with the US forms part of a broader framework for deepening relations in the defence and security sector.
“Alongside the European dimension through SAFE, bilateral relations with Washington offer Cyprus access to modern means, at low cost or free, contributing to National Guard modernisation and further strengthening our deterrent capability,” he said.
Within the same framework are interventions being made to upgrade the air base in Paphos and the naval base at Mari, with contributions from both the United States and the European Union, Letymbiotis said.
Turkey excluded from SAFE programme
Asked to comment on Turkey’s application to join the SAFE regulation programme, the spokesman said nothing has changed regarding the programme’s provisions and how a candidate state can participate.
“And the Commission spokesman yesterday referred to the safeguard clauses that have been put in place and made particular reference to Article 16 of the regulation, which states that if a third country violates in any way the security interests of one of the EU member states or the EU as a whole, there is a possibility to be excluded from programme participation.”
Beyond this, positions by EU and Commission officials regarding the regulation’s clear provisions that a non-member state or candidate state must conclude a bilateral agreement with the EU requiring unanimity of all 27 member states are indicative, he said.
“Therefore, at the present stage, Turkey and Turkish companies do not have access to this regulation,” he concluded.
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