U.S. President Joe Biden has signed a historic decree granting the Republic of Cyprus access to U.S. defence articles and services days before leaving the Oval Office.
The presidential determination makes Cyprus eligible to receive defence equipment, supplies and services through three separate programmes: Foreign Military Sales (FMS), which facilitates direct transfers between the U.S. government and Cyprus; Excess Defense Articles (EDA), offering surplus equipment either as donations or at reduced costs; and Title 10 security assistance, which provides training and materials primarily for land and maritime border security and counter-terrorism.
In a post on X, U.S. Ambassador Julie Fisher said the decision “marks an important step in deepening the US-Cyprus relationship, enhancing security cooperation and promoting stability in the Eastern Mediterranean”.
President Biden's determination of the ROC’s eligibility for government-to-government defense sales marks an important step in deepening the 🇺🇸🇨🇾 relationship, enhancing security cooperation & promoting stability in the East Med. https://t.co/vjjL3ZEplw
— Julie Davis (Fisher) (@USAmbCy) January 15, 2025
Washington noted that access to these programmes further enhances growing bilateral security cooperation between the U.S. and Cyprus, enabling them to work together in addressing regional humanitarian crises, countering malicious activities, and combating terrorism and international organised crime.
The move has immediate military implications for Cyprus as it strengthens the country’s defence and modernises the National Guard, allowing procurement of defence equipment either free of charge or at particularly low cost directly from the American government.
The Cypriot presidency said the decision was among topics discussed between the presidents of both countries at the White House last October. It emphasised that this development underscores Cyprus’s position as a key pillar of security and stability in the Eastern Mediterranean, strengthens its political stability, and enhances its geopolitical standing, thereby supporting its persistent efforts for a solution to the Cyprus problem.
According to the Cypriot presidency’s statement, Cyprus’s inclusion in the EDA programme offers the possibility of acquiring defence equipment from U.S. surplus material either through donations or at particularly low cost, contributing to the modernisation of the country’s armament programme.
The statement adds that participation in the FMS allows direct procurement of defence equipment from the U.S. Government, ensuring these actions serve common strategic goals.
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