Apostolos Tomaras
Sixty-two years after its establishment, the National Guard has spent the past 15 years entering a new era, leaving behind a period defined largely by its inward-looking approach.
This new chapter in the history of the Republic of Cyprus’ military force, established following the intercommunal violence of 1963, is gradually transforming the National Guard into a modern force with a substantive, rather than supporting, role in Cyprus’ security.
The National Guard’s “dark years”—the period from 2004 to 2012, when funding for Cyprus’ defense was restricted to essential operating needs—were followed by upgrades and modernization of both its operating framework and its weapons systems.
The lifting of the U.S. arms embargo, imposed in 1987, greatly assisted the Republic’s military in its turn toward the West. Images of weapons belonging to another era, retained because of the embargo, are now a distant memory. Their remaining value is as museum exhibits and reminders of the difficult path following independence.
In their place, the Republic has acquired modern weapons systems comparable to those of other armed forces, substantially strengthening the military’s deterrent capability.
The effort to bring the National Guard into this new era would not have produced the same results without the removal of barriers to Western defense markets and Cyprus’ membership in the European Union.
However, a pivotal factor in the National Guard’s emerging profile was the political decision to redefine the Republic’s orientation and position in the Eastern Mediterranean, moving away from the philosophy of the Non-Aligned Movement.
That choice placed Cyprus at the geopolitical heart of the region, allowing it to forge strong alliances with countries beyond the EU.
Defense and diplomacy
From the mid-1990s until the early 2010s, Cyprus relied heavily on the Russian and French defense industries to strengthen its defenses and upgrade the National Guard’s arsenal.
During that period, the force acquired weapons systems that were modern for their time and, to a considerable extent, also served diplomatic purposes.
One example was the Russian S-300 missile defense system. Although it never reached Cyprus, it contributed significantly to what became known as the “active volcano policy,” intended to generate renewed momentum on the Cyprus issue.
The major leap in defense diplomacy, however, came in the early 2010s, when Nicosia invested in regional cooperation with a clear Western orientation.
In some cases, that policy proved decisive in forging strong strategic ties, with consequences for military procurement as well.
The regional trilateral partnerships ended what Ioannis Kasoulides described as the Republic’s “calculated neutrality,” establishing strong partnerships, primarily with Egypt and Israel.
Initially, those relationships brought the National Guard out of its shell and gave it a place in activities that would previously have seemed little more than a midsummer night’s dream.
Israel: A strategic relationship
Within this new environment, ties between Cyprus and Israel stand out because they extend beyond military cooperation.
Cyprus has become a major customer of Israel’s defense industry, which ranks behind France among its suppliers.
Cooperation that began under the Christofias administration, through arrangements facilitating Israeli air force training activities, continued and subsequently expanded.
The acquisition, through an intergovernmental agreement, of the National Guard’s first offshore patrol vessel, the Commodore A. Ioannides, opened the door to one of the world’s most significant defense industries.
Eight years after the vessel joined the National Guard’s navy, the Defense Ministry is preparing to acquire a second ship, again from Israel through an intergovernmental agreement.
The new offshore patrol vessel will carry defense systems supplied by another Israeli company, Rafael. The agreement is reportedly worth €150 million.
According to reliable information obtained by Kathimerini, the Defense Ministry and National Guard General Staff plan to upgrade the weapons systems of the Commodore A. Ioannides after the new vessel is delivered, equipping it with the same weaponry.
The Barak system
Another significant Israeli addition to the National Guard’s arsenal is the Barak MX air defense system, manufactured by Israel Aerospace Industries and displayed at the Oct. 1 parade.
The system provides extensive air defense coverage and will make a substantial contribution to phasing out Russian-made anti-aircraft systems.
Reliable military sources confirmed to Kathimerini that the Defense Ministry and National Guard General Staff also plan to acquire a second Barak MX battery to complete Cyprus’ air defense coverage.
The National Guard has also acquired the Spike LR2, a fifth-generation anti-tank guided missile system, from the Israeli defense industry.
Another significant Israeli contribution is the National Guard’s new personal equipment, with priority given to special forces. Following a tender process, the contract was awarded to Israeli companies Source Vagabond, also known as Source Tactical Gear, and Marom Dolphin.
The Merkava
The Defense Ministry has also turned to Israel in search of a reliable replacement, at this stage, for the first batch of Russian T-80U tanks.
These comprise approximately 41 tanks that the National Guard General Staff urgently wants to replace.
The interest dates back to the period around the outbreak of the Gaza war. Earlier contacts had produced results, but the start of hostilities froze the prospect of a purchase as Israel suspended exports of military equipment, including Merkava tanks.
As Kathimerini has reported, Nicosia examined alternatives, including French Leclerc tanks, German Leopards and secondhand Leopards from Greece. None of those options came to fruition.
For the French Leclerc, cost and delivery times proved prohibitive, while the Greek Leopards did not meet the National Guard General Staff’s standards.
Kathimerini understands that Nicosia continues to look to Israel, pressing to secure a number of modernized Merkava tanks.
Given the difficulties, however, the Defense Ministry and National Guard General Staff appear to be keeping the Greek Leopard option open to cover the needs arising from the planned withdrawal of the 41 Russian T-80Us.
France retains the lead
Despite the Israeli defense industry’s strong presence, France has held—and continues to hold—the leading position in National Guard procurement.
During the difficult years of military procurement, France was the only Western country supplying the National Guard with weapons systems.
Relations between the two countries are described as excellent. This is also reflected in the EU’s SAFE program, under which the French defense industry is receiving 80% of Cyprus’ arms procurement contracts.
Those ties are evident in decisions such as the agreement to acquire six Airbus H145M attack helicopters, with Nicosia preparing to exercise a contractual option to purchase more.
Under SAFE, attention is also focused on KNDS’ Jaguar armored fighting vehicle, the procurement of 80 Griffon and 100 Serval vehicles, and fifth-generation AKERON smart anti-tank missiles.
The French defense industry is also represented in the National Guard’s arsenal by Exocet MM40 Block IIIC anti-ship missiles and the Mistral air defense system.
