It was the first visit by US military officials to Paphos, following an agreement with the Republic to take over the modernisation of the base in line with the government’s policy to upgrade its defence capabilities as well as provide, according to public remarks, high quality humanitarian missions.
A preliminary detailed inspection by a group of American experts who were at the base this week, has revealed, according to a report by Phileleftheros political editor Andreas Bimbishis, that fundamental restructuring is required if the base is to become modern and functional, in accordance with its current requirements.
The early feedback to defence minister Palmas and the National Guard leadership is a three prong strategy to bring the facility up to speed-modernisation, enhanced security and additional infrastructure, if its to meet NATO standards.
This is an initial assessment of the tasks ahead, as military technocrats will be reviewing their findings and coming up with more specific and detailed recommendations in the immediate future.
The government is determined to proceed with the changes, setting a timeline of 18 months to complete the works, at a cost of approximately 15 million.
Seeking to allay fears that the Americans will be turning the facility into an operations base for Middle East missions, Nicosia has repeatedly reiterated that the purpose of the revamping is of a clearly humanitarian and administrative nature and it will not be used for military action against any country.
It has also responded to criticism that the US will come and go as it pleases following the restructuring of the base, noting that the Republic will maintain, at all instances, sovereignty over the facility, with its use requiring the necessary official confirmations.
Part of the opposition political groupings, mostly left wing AKEL, have expressed fears that the base will be a front for American military operations, with officials dismissing such claims as ‘western allergy’.
The restructuring of the Andreas Papandreou Airbase is one of the fundamental pillars of a deepening defence cooperation with the United States, which has included in its immediate specific scope, the lifting of the arms embargo on Cyprus in the dying days of the Biden administration.
Alongside this development, a programme of action has been set in motion by the European Union to upgrade the Mari naval base with European funds and member state military vessels docking at the base when the necessary restructuring is completed.
