Nicosia: The need to strengthen the European Union’s security and defence, as well as Greece’s contribution to enhancing the deterrent capacity of the Republic of Cyprus, were central topics of discussion during a meeting on Wednesday between Cyprus President Nikos Christodoulides and Greek Minister of National Defence Nikos Dendias.
According to Cyprus News Agency, President Christodoulides emphasized the importance of decisions made during the recent informal European Council concerning the enhancement of the EU’s defence and security, as stated in a presidency press release. These significant decisions are set to be formalized at the upcoming European Council, underscoring the EU’s responsibility for the defence of its member states. Additionally, Christodoulides highlighted that this initiative aligns with broader objectives such as achieving strategic autonomy and reinforcing the EU’s geopolitical role.
“The two countries (Greece and Cyprus) have jointly submitted a letter to the European Investment Bank regarding defence spending, and I look forward to discussing this matter with you,” President Christodoulides conveyed to Dendias during the meeting. He further discussed Cyprus’ defence priorities, including the expansion of the ‘Andreas Papandreou’ Air Base and the upgrading of the ‘Evangelos Florakis’ Naval Base, expressing a desire to explore other defence equipment matters.
President Christodoulides stressed the importance of Greece’s support in achieving the clear objective of strengthening the deterrent capabilities of the Republic of Cyprus. He noted that this objective is not only related to Turkey’s ongoing occupation of Cyprus for over 50 years but also considers evolving regional developments. He also mentioned the initiation of several joint efforts to enhance regional cooperation, which have proven crucial in effectively confronting various challenges.
In his remarks, Dendias praised the extensive and productive discussions with his Cypriot counterpart and congratulated President Christodoulides on the government’s achievements. He highlighted the new US initiative regarding American military equipment and commended the President’s efforts to reposition the Cyprus issue in alignment with UN resolutions.
Regarding EU defence and security, Dendias criticized the bloc’s past approach as “schizophrenic” due to restrictive fiscal limits on defence expenditures. He argued that strategic autonomy could not be achieved under such constraints and expressed optimism that the EU is now adopting a more rational approach. Dendias also supported Christodoulides’ stance on Europe’s need to defend its territory while reassuring NATO allies that this initiative complements rather than conflicts with Europe’s commitments to the Alliance.
Cyprus has been divided since 1974, following Turkey’s invasion and occupation of its northern third. Despite repeated rounds of UN-led peace talks, a resolution remains elusive. The last round of negotiations, held in July 2017 at the Swiss resort of Crans-Montana, ended without a conclusive outcome.