U.S. President Joe Biden on Wednesday signed a presidential determination allowing Cyprus to participate in three U.S. defence programmes.
The decision will enable Cyprus to join the Foreign Military Sales (FMS) programme, the Excess Defense Articles (EDA) programme, and Title 10 Security Assistance Programs, despite existing International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) restrictions.
Sources in Washington say the move acknowledges Cyprus’s regional security role and represents a historic step in strengthening defence relations between the two nations.
The programmes are expected to help modernise Cyprus’s armed forces and enhance their NATO interoperability, whilst strengthening security ties between Washington and Nicosia.
Whilst Cyprus typically would be ineligible for these programmes due to ongoing arms embargo restrictions, State Department lawyers determined that presidential authority could override these limitations.
The FMS programme facilitates government-to-government transfer of defence equipment, services and training. Under the EDA programme, Cyprus can receive surplus U.S. military equipment at reduced or no cost if deemed beneficial to U.S. national security interests.
The Title 10 Security Assistance Programs provide training and equipment to foreign security forces to develop new capabilities and promote U.S. security interests through joint missions and enhanced cooperation.
The presidential determinations, which carry the force of U.S. law, were signed as part of Washington’s strategic decision to deepen defence cooperation with Cyprus.
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