Cyprus will submit a €1.2 billion defence equipment list to the cabinet today, including drones, anti-tank missiles and ammunition, as part of the EU’s SAFE programme.
The list must be forwarded to the European Commission by 30 November, with the equipment selection based on National Guard needs and available funding through 2030.
The total amount approved for Cyprus reaches €1.2 billion. The funds will be used gradually, as the amount drawn down will be added to public debt.
The EU offers the money to member states as a low-interest loan to strengthen their defence, with a repayment period of up to 45 years.
A key factor is that the amount drawn annually from the SAFE programme will be additional to the budget allocated for National Guard equipment purchases.
For a small country like Cyprus, where strengthening deterrence is a vital priority, this represents significant support for defence reinforcement efforts.
The equipment list heading to the cabinet today was compiled based on National Guard needs and within the framework of cooperation for purchasing equipment from EU countries. Cyprus has purchased arms from France several times.
Attention is expected to turn to the French market for equipment programmes, though purchases from other countries such as Germany are not ruled out.
The weapon systems from the SAFE programme will be additional to annual planning for weapon system purchases, allowing for targeted acquisitions that complement purchases planned from the American market following the lifting of the embargo, as well as from other countries such as Israel, which sparked extensive discussion regarding the purchase of the BARAK MX anti-aircraft system.
In statements to CyBC radio in recent days, Defence Minister Vasilis Palmas said the amount of €1,189,000,000 was approved for Cyprus.
“The Republic of Cyprus must submit the list of products of interest by 30 November. We have completed this work,” he said, explaining that today he would submit the proposal from the Defence Ministry to the cabinet, with products selected as first priority and needs for the next four to five years, until 2030. “Once approved by the cabinet, we will submit it officially to the European Commission for evaluation and final approval,” he continued.
During his radio appearance, the Defence Minister was asked whether there were any updates regarding Turkey’s insistence on participating in SAFE.
“As far as European procedures at the political and legal level are concerned, Turkey cannot participate because it is a third country of the international community and, most importantly, threatens or is (illegally) in member states of the community. We mean Greece, which is in daily confrontation with Turkey in the Aegean. At the same time, Turkey is an occupying power in the Republic of Cyprus. Based on European Union decisions, for a third country to participate in this regulation, there must be unanimity of member states. Turkey is excluded,” he said.
He also repeated his assessment that “through European companies in which it is a shareholder, Turkey may find a way to participate indirectly, with a percentage, in the process called the SAFE regulation”.
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