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Cyprus has been making strategic shifts in its military and diplomatic approach, particularly with regard to its relationship with NATO and its defense infrastructure, according to an article by Apostolos Tomaras in this Sunday's Kathimerini. These changes, especially in the National Guard's restructuring and its increasing orientation toward Western military systems, reflect the country’s effort to strengthen its geopolitical position in the Eastern Mediterranean.
In recent years, Cyprus has worked to enhance its military deterrence and overall defense capabilities without fully integrating into NATO, a sensitive topic due to its complex geopolitical situation. Over the last decade, Cyprus has capitalized on its stability in the region, positioning itself as a reliable Western partner amidst a volatile environment. This shift has allowed the country to raise defense issues that were once considered taboo, including greater access to American military technology.
One of Cyprus’s major goals has been to modernize its defense hardware. This includes discussions with the U.S. about acquiring advanced systems, particularly in the air defense and anti-aircraft sectors. The Cyprus Armed Forces (CAF) have increasingly relied on Western arms to replace outdated or problematic Russian equipment, especially after the Russian embargo. The focus is on eliminating old Russian systems, such as the TOR M1 and BUK anti-aircraft systems, and replacing them with more modern, Western alternatives.
Additionally, Cyprus has engaged with the U.S. on the potential upgrading of military bases, like the Andreas Papandreou Air Base and the naval base in Mari. These infrastructures could be further developed to meet NATO standards, with the U.S. potentially helping finance the upgrades.
The current priority for the Cypriot military includes replacing its aging Russian-made tanks, such as the T80U, and armored vehicles like the BMP-3. While acquiring advanced U.S. systems like the M1 Abrams tanks seems unlikely due to high maintenance costs and lack of precedence, Cyprus is looking at U.S. surplus equipment as a potential solution to fill gaps in its defense.
One notable area of development is the Cyprus Air Force (CAF), which has been reorganizing its assets. This includes the sale of outdated Russian helicopters to reduce maintenance costs and the potential acquisition of U.S. helicopters for search and rescue operations. Additionally, the Air Force Control Centre is undergoing modernization to improve its capabilities. The long-term goal is to diversify the CAF’s assets and move away from a one-dimensional reliance on helicopters.
Despite these efforts, the issue of strengthening the Air Force has faced obstacles, particularly political ones. In the past, when Greece signed a contract to purchase French Rafale fighters, there were informal discussions about transferring some of Greece’s retired Mirage 2000 jets to Cyprus, but these plans were scrapped due to political tensions within Cyprus’s leadership.
Overall, Cyprus’s military strategy is focused on modernizing its defense capabilities and strengthening its partnership with the U.S. and NATO, all while maintaining its strategic independence in the Eastern Mediterranean. With the right diplomatic approach and continued modernization, Cyprus aims to secure a stronger, more resilient defense posture for the future.
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