Cyprus to purchase arms worth €240m from France

Contracts have been signed for the purchase of military equipment worth €240 million from France, Defence Ministry announced on Friday, confirming recent reports in French media.

The Ministry noted that due to the sensitive nature of the matter, which falls under national security, it does not intend to disclose any further information for the time being.

According to La Tribune, the French weekly financial newspaper, Cyprus has signed contracts with the French company MBDA for the purchase of Mistral (surface-to-air) and Exocet (anti-ship) missiles, at an estimated cost of €240 million.

As reported by Kathimerini in January, in the context of a program to modernize and upgrade the Cyprus armed forces, the Defence Ministry has also signed contracts for the modernization of the army’s surface-to-surface missiles, as well as a new French short/medium range air defense system.

France has emerged as a core ally for Cyprus and Greece against Turkish provocations in the region. The flagship of the French navy, aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle remains stationed off the Limassol coast.

One of the six vessels accompanying the aircraft carrier, the French frigate CHEVALIER PAUL, on the borders of Block 8 and 9, near the location of the Turkish drillship Yavuz, which has been widely criticized of violating international law with its current activities in the Cyprus EEZ.