- Cyprus is reorganizing its interests away from Russia towards the United States.
- Its Russian arms have been replaced, and he can now get weapons more easily.
- Helicopters and air defenses are replaced. Security studies expert said the shields could be the next.
A former Russian partner and the so -called “non -penetration aircraft carrier” in the Mediterranean are close strategically from the United States in recent years and can now get her hands on US weapons.
According to a signature at the end of the last US administration, Cyprus is now included in foreign military sales programs (FMS) and excessive defense articles (EDA). In addition, the Cyprus National Guard, the country’s military force, will be able to participate in more training initiatives with American forces.
Inserting Cyprus in these two programs is important – especially since the country continues to redirect it and get rid of its Russian arms slowly.
Come and buy
The foreign military sales program enables the Ministry of Defense to buy weapons directly from American weapons manufacturers on behalf of the partner countries, which simplifies the buyer’s process. The excess defensive articles program allows partner countries to obtain free American defense equipment for free or at great reduced prices to modernize their forces.
In 1987, the American arms embargo led the Cypriot government to Russia for many of its weapons while following a close relationship with Moscow.
However, in recent years, especially after the invasion of the Russians in 2022, Cyprus was distancing from Moscow and replacing its Russian weapons steadily.
The United States partially lifted the arms embargo in 2020 and two years later, it fully raised, according to an annual evaluation.
In 2023, Cyprus replaced Russian Mi-35p Attack with Airbus Airbus, and last December, BARAK 8 surface missile systems bought the Russian Tor M-1 and Buk Sams. Beyond vehicles and air defenses, can be the following vehicles.
“As a policy of stripping itself of Russian equipment continues, two main buyers represent the following two logical projects: the main battle tanks and armored combat vehicles,” Andrew Novo, Professor of Strategic Studies at the National Defense University, told Business Insider.
M2 Bradley, an armored combat vehicle, has proven itself in Ukraine.
Reuters/Strenger
The Cypriot National Guard uses the main T-80 battle tanks and the BMP-3 combat vehicles, so the American M1 tanks and Bradley M2 (or other armored vehicles will be logical candidates to replace current stocks. “
M1 Abrams Tanks and Bradley Armored Fighting is very appreciated, and Bradleys has proven its value in the battlefields in Ukraine, until its tuberculosis against Tanks.
Some current weapons of Cyprus can end there as well.
Although she initially rejected the idea of sending its ancient Russian weapons to Ukraine, noting concerns about its security-since a Turkish invasion in 1974, the northern third of the island has been occupied by the Turkish forces and the separated jaws-the United States regimes may allow this.
“This possibility can be considered, provided that this device is replaced by equivalent or better equipment,” said Nikos Anastasiadis, at the time in 2022.
We look forward
It is unclear what is the direction that the new Trump administration might take things, but the inclusion of Cyprus in these programs can pave the way to lift the full siege of weapons, remove the annual evaluation, as well as strengthen relations with the United States.
Changing the assessments can mean big changes. “In general, the adoption of a new arms system is a multi -year process – sometimes more than a decade,” Novo said. “The Cypriot government cannot order an American weapons system and maintain risk or purchases based on an annual basis.”
The two countries also enhance their military cooperation in other ways. In September, they signed a framework for defense cooperation to better respond to humanitarian crises and security concerns and enhance the interim operation between the United States and the Cypriot forces.
Cypriot special operations units were repeatedly trained with its counterparts in the United States, and in 2023, an American nuclear energy submarine was established in the Cyprus Port of Limassol for the first time.
There was increasing military cooperation between the United States and Cyprus, including in the field of special operations.
US Navy by the mass communications specialist Bill Carlal
The US Navy and the aircraft deployed in Cyprus last year in preparation for potential evacuation of American citizens from Lebanon, and now, the US Air Force is considering upgrading the main air base in Cyprus for use in the humanitarian operations in the region.
The island is located in a strategic location in the eastern Mediterranean, just about 100 miles from the Levant, and provides access to North Africa and Asia Minor. It is often described as a “non -test carrier”.
The President of the Cypriot expressed his commitment to expanding his country’s cooperation and security with the United States.
“It is in the interest of both the United States and Cyprus to preserve and develop this relationship, and the United States proves that by investing in the infrastructure of defense and security in Cyprus,” Nouvo said.
