Cyprus has approached the US Pentagon requesting defence equipment to strengthen the National Guard, with the Republic of Cyprus submitting a formal verbal communication last week seeking specific weapons systems from American surplus military stocks.
President Nikos Christodoulides revealed Nicosia’s intentions to enhance Cypriot defensive capabilities during a television interview on Plus Channel, confirming the government had already proceeded with the request for specific defensive equipment.
President reveals formal request for surplus US military systems
“Within the programmes that the US has included us in, we have already proceeded last week to request specific defensive equipment that we are interested in purchasing from United States stocks,” Christodoulides stated.
The president confirmed Cyprus had informed the Pentagon through verbal communication that the Republic of Cyprus was interested in securing defensive equipment deemed useful according to planning requirements and was awaiting a US response.
Christodoulides noted Cypriot interest was based on a list previously communicated to Cyprus containing specific available material, expressing optimism for a positive response.
If Americans respond positively, specialists from Cyprus will be sent to examine the weapons systems the Cypriot side wishes to acquire.
Biden’s decision enables Cyprus defence purchases
The ability for Cyprus to purchase weapons systems from the US was established through President Biden’s decision one year ago.
Biden’s decision has a direct impact on Cyprus’s defence enhancement and National Guard modernisation, providing the possibility of acquiring defensive material either free of charge or at a particularly low cost directly from the American government, plus access to surplus US stocks.
Paphos air base and Mari naval facility developments
Regarding Paphos air base, President Christodoulides said US Defence Department specialists had visited and “made recommendations and we are at the implementation stage.”
For the Mari naval base and its upgrade, contact exists with the European Commission President “so there will be financial support from the Commission’s side”, as Cyprus’s goal is for the base to be used by European Union member states.
Defence agreements to proceed through government-to-government deals
The government’s objective for defence matters is for agreements to proceed at G2G level – government-to-government. Through this route, the Cypriot government will proceed with agreements with foreign governments in the defence sector.
The president expressed his government’s intention for major projects like defence to proceed through direct agreements rather than time-consuming public tender procedures, speaking of “consolidating a mistaken mentality”.
Cyprus shows interest in European SAFE programme
Cyprus has expressed interest in participating in the European SAFE programme.
According to Christodoulides, there is a significant dimension involving the Cypriot defence industry, with companies in Cyprus already participating in defence programmes in France, Spain and other EU member states.
“We want to help these companies participate in extroversion by participating in many other productions,” Christodoulides said, adding that through these collaborations, products from these companies would also be used by the National Guard.
He reiterated the European Investment Bank’s decision to include defence and security sector purchases in its investment programme, stating EIB terms are more favourable.
Regarding Turkey’s potential participation in SAFE, Christodoulides clarified that Turkey would need a defence agreement with the European Union, requiring unanimous agreement from all 27 member states at Council level.