Military forces in the region have changed both qualitatively and quantitatively, mainly due to the presence of the United States and the support it receives from allied or other forces, defence expert and head of the Centre for Strategic Studies, Aristos Aristotelous, said, warning that the Middle East has entered a new and more dangerous phase.
Speaking to Cyprus News Agency (CNA), Aristotelous said Iran appeared to have resilience and the ability to respond. He said he did not consider Cyprus to be in a high-risk zone but added that “you cannot rule anything out”, referring to the drone that struck the Akrotiri base.
He noted that the immediate target was the British bases, which had previously been used by the United States, rather than territory under the control of the Republic of Cyprus.
Aristotelous said that, in light of the incident at the Akrotiri base, a public early warning system should be activated for any type of threat. For such a mechanism to function properly, he added, a military early warning system against aerial threats must also be in place.
Asked whether the presence of military reinforcements from Greece, possibly France and other allied countries, strengthens Cyprus’s military power, Aristotelous said that the forces to be sent would not drastically alter the balance of power in the region, given that they would not be involved in the theatre of war.
“It may reinforce Cyprus’s defence, it may be a security measure but we are not at a high-risk level. It may contribute to the psychology of the public and the government,” he said.
Responding to a question on whether air defence or missile systems were more important, Aristotelous said an effective defence required a combination of both and that Cyprus must take several measures to establish a truly effective air defence system.
“Note, however, that there is no perfect air defence system, but it can be substantially improved and better protection conditions can be created,” he said. Systems recently acquired, he added, are helpful but must be integrated into a comprehensive air defence structure with a command and control centre responsible for oversight and allocation of responsibilities.
