Cyprus is positioning itself for potential NATO membership, contingent on enhancing its armed forces with U.S. support, President Nikos Christodoulides announced. This marks a significant shift from the island’s long-standing policy of neutrality, a legacy of the Cold War.
Following a meeting with U.S. President Joe Biden last month, Christodoulides revealed that while Cyprus cannot join NATO immediately due to anticipated objections from Turkey, it aims to modernize its National Guard. Turkey maintains over 35,000 troops in the northern part of Cyprus and does not recognize the Greek Cypriot government in the south.
Christodoulides emphasized the importance of strengthening Cyprus’s defensive capabilities and expressed gratitude for the U.S. response to its requests. “We are in discussions on how to make the best use of these opportunities, preparing for a future where the Republic of Cyprus can become a NATO member,” he stated.
The president highlighted Cyprus’s strategic location, just 114 miles from Beirut, as a catalyst for military infrastructure upgrades, including talks with the U.S. for improvements to a key air base and discussions with the EU for a naval base. The Andreas Papandreou air base currently hosts a U.S. Marine contingent and prepositioned military assets to support potential operations in the region.
As the United Nations prepares to renew peace talks between the divided sides of Cyprus, the island’s government is focused on enhancing its security posture while navigating complex geopolitical dynamics.
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