Cyprus is leveraging its bettering relations with the United States to strengthen its defence capabilities, whilst NATO membership remains off the immediate agenda despite public discourse.
The US partnership offers Nicosia opportunities to gain military benefits comparable to those enjoyed by NATO member states.
This cooperation aims to enhance the National Guard’s deterrent capabilities and elevate Cyprus’s regional strategic role as a US ally.
Through this dialogue, Nicosia seeks to overcome political and technical obstacles imposed by Ankara, which has consistently attempted to limit Cyprus’s military capabilities and prevent the National Guard from acquiring military equipment.
President Christodoulides, addressing Turkish objections, said: “Precisely because we don’t want the National Guard to miss these opportunities, we are discussing with the US – and I welcome their positive response – at three levels that NATO membership offers, about how the Republic of Cyprus can utilise these opportunities, so that when everything is in place, the Republic of Cyprus can become a NATO member state”.
He emphasised that “strengthening the Republic of Cyprus’s deterrent power is of utmost importance to us, and we are utilising every opportunity, both towards the US and NATO, as well as the EU, where there are several European Defence Agency programmes in which we participate to achieve this goal”.
The president noted ongoing infrastructure improvements, stating that “decisions have already been taken to strengthen and upgrade both our naval and air bases, and within this framework, we are in advanced consultations with the EU regarding the naval base and with the US regarding the air base”.
Foreign Minister Constantinos Kombos clarified that NATO-related matters should be viewed in proper context, explaining that Cyprus’s primary focus remains on enhancing its defence capabilities, which have been influenced by both the Ukraine war and the Middle East situation.
AKEL, which recently demonstrated against NATO and the US, has demanded explanations from the government regarding how NATO membership would serve the Cyprus solution and strengthen the country’s security.
Turkey has expressed strong opposition to any discussion of Cyprus joining NATO.
Sources from the Turkish Defence Ministry described potential Cypriot NATO membership as “unacceptable” for Turkey, warning it would disrupt the delicate balance in the Cyprus issue and negatively impact solution negotiations.
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