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Tag: Vasilis Palmas

  • Defence cooperation: Defence Minister Clarifies Cyprus-Greece-Israel Cooperation Talks

    Defence cooperation: Defence Minister Clarifies Cyprus-Greece-Israel Cooperation Talks

    Defence Minister Vasilis Palmas has confirmed that discussions regarding a Cyprus-Greece-Israel defence cooperation initiative have not taken place. This statement follows reports in Greek media suggesting that high-ranking military officials from the three nations were in talks about forming a rapid reaction force aimed at countering Turkey’s military presence in the Eastern Mediterranean.

    • Officials have made it clear that any procurement will take into account repair, maintenance, and transport costs to ensure economic efficiency and long-term sustainability.

    Palmas addressed these claims in an interview with philenews, emphasising that any such initiative would depend on significant political decisions rather than merely military consultations. He underlined the importance of the matter but stated it is premature to speculate whether a trilateral defence formation will materialise in the future.

    The relationships between Cyprus, Greece, and Israel are currently at a high point, according to Palmas. He noted that during his recent visit to Israel, where he met with the Israeli Defence Minister, the potential defence cooperation was not a topic of discussion.

    Amidst these diplomatic considerations, Palmas provided updates on military infrastructure developments within Cyprus. He indicated that upgrades to the Evangelos Florakis Naval Base in Mari and the Andreas Papandreou Air Base in Paphos are currently underway. These enhancements are part of a broader strategy to strengthen the operational capabilities of the National Guard.

    Palmas revealed that the United States has begun architectural and technical plans for the upgrade of the Paphos Air Base, which is expected to bolster Cyprus’s military infrastructure significantly. The decision to enhance the Mari Naval Base was solidified following the signing of the Cyprus-France Strategic Declaration in Paris, marking a pivotal moment for Cyprus’s role in the region.

    The planned naval infrastructure aims to be capable of hosting warships, with architectural and technical plans anticipated to be completed by 2026, leading to substantial construction work starting in 2027.

    In terms of military equipment, Palmas mentioned that the Defence Ministry and National Guard General Staff are prioritising the acquisition of surplus American military equipment. Cyprus is preparing to send a delegation to the US to explore various weapons systems suited for its needs. Among the equipment under consideration are American armoured personnel carriers and potentially Bradley-type vehicles.

    Officials have made it clear that any procurement will take into account repair, maintenance, and transport costs to ensure economic efficiency and long-term sustainability.

  • Eu safe — Cabinet Approves Arms Procurement for EU Safe Programme

    Eu safe — Cabinet Approves Arms Procurement for EU Safe Programme

    eu safe — The cabinet has approved the list of armaments that Cyprus intends to procure through the Security Action for Europe (Safe) programme.

    • eu safe — The cabinet has approved the list of armaments that Cyprus intends to procure through the Security Action for Europe (Safe) programme.

    Prepared by the defence ministry, the list signifies a strategic move towards enhancing Cyprus’s defensive capabilities. Defence Minister Vasilis Palmas, while remaining tight-lipped about the specifics, emphasised the defensive nature of the armaments. “Under no circumstances do the armaments programmes on the list concern weapons systems with an offensive posture,” he stated, reflecting on Cyprus’s historical context as an occupied territory for over five decades.

    The formal submission of the armaments list to the European Commission is scheduled for November 30. Minister Palmas explained that once the procedure receives final approval, Cyprus will have access to allocated funds amounting to €1.2 billion. This crucial financial backing will enable the country to effectively bolster its defence mechanisms.

    Following the approval, the defence ministry plans to collaborate with the finance ministry to integrate these funds into the annual state budget. When asked about the potential suppliers for the procurement, Palmas noted that while France and Germany are among the likely candidates, there are various other countries involved in joint armament production.

    The Safe programme aims to foster collaboration among EU member states and allies for common procurements of military hardware. All EU member states, along with Ukraine, four European Economic Area states—namely Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, and Switzerland—and six additional nations with defence agreements with the EU, including Albania, Japan, Moldova, North Macedonia, South Korea, and the United Kingdom, are eligible to participate.

    Safe will provide long-term, low-cost loans to assist EU nations in acquiring essential defence equipment. To facilitate this, EU member states must submit their national investment plans to the European Commission by the end of November. The Commission will assess these plans with the aim of initiating the first disbursements in early 2026.