Cyprus and France have signed a Strategic Declaration and an accompanying 2026–2030 Action Plan that immediately launches the substantial upgrade of the Mari Naval Base to facilitate the permanent presence of French warships in the Eastern Mediterranean.
The agreement was signed in Paris following a visit by President Nikos Christodoulides to the Élysée Palace.
The strategic partnership focuses primarily on Defence and Security, centering on two core axes: the upgrade of the Mari Naval Base and a major defence procurement deal.
The upgrade will allow the base to host large warships.Secondly, the agreement includes French military industry covering 85% of the defence equipment requested by the Republic of Cyprus under the SAFE programme.
The deal mandates the participation of Cypriot companies, with a 15% share in the production of each procurement programme, creating a substantial opportunity for knowledge transfer to the domestic industry and boosting the National Guard’s aerial assets and communications systems.
Beyond security, the Strategic Declaration and Action Plan outline a comprehensive roadmap for cooperation across sixteen sectors, moving the relationship from mere declarations to measurable, applied policies.
Notable provisions include:
Schengen Representation: France has agreed to represent Cyprus in 25 third countries, offering consular services related to Schengen visa issuance, a provision that will take effect once Cyprus achieves full accession to the Schengen Area.
IMEC Corridor: The agreement explicitly references cooperation in the India–Middle East–Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC), with France recognising Cyprus as a critical hub and a “bridge” between the regions, promoting regional stability and interconnectivity.
Investments: A French company expressed interest in significant investments at the Larnaca port during the governmental delegation meetings.
The agreement also covers cooperation in Civil Protection, Digital Policy, Public Health, Maritime affairs, and Energy, including technical workshops on integrating high percentages of renewable energy into national grids.
Implementation will be monitored through annual high-level intergovernmental meetings between senior officials from the two Foreign Ministries, and biennial meetings at the Ministerial level.
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Cyprus and France elevate ties with strategic partnership agreement