Cyprus is committed to expanding defense ties with the US, says its president

Nicosia, Cyprus — Cyprus’s president said on Sunday his government is committed to expanding defense and security cooperation with the US, as his meeting with US President Joe Biden last week set a course for the “next ambitious steps” in bilateral ties that are currently at a ‘historic level’. high.”

President Nikos Christodoulides says his government’s “clear foreign policy orientation” has resulted in a deepening of the strategic partnership between Cyprus and the US during the first 18 months of his five-year term in office in areas such as law enforcement cooperation in combating money laundering and sanctions evasion, as well as energy.

A centerpiece of that security cooperation is the US-funded Center for Port and Maritime Security, known by its acronym CYCLES where officials from neighboring countries, including Libya, Yemen and Lebanon, receive important training ranging from cybersecurity to ship inspections.

Christodoulides said his October 30 visit to the White House “is a testament and recognition of Cyprus’ geostrategic role and the country’s potential and capabilities.”

“Cyprus can be a reliable ‘port of stability’ and at the same time a country that has a vision to transform its immediate region, together with its partners, into a region of promise, stability, cooperation and prosperity,” Christodoulides said in an email mail. response to an Associated Press questionnaire.

The Cypriot president said his government is “certainly considering” purchasing American-made weapons after the lifting of a decades-long arms embargo in 2020. But what must precede such purchases is the U.S. Congress lifting its embargo for an extended period. This is currently extended annually.

Christodoulides said Cyprus’ geostrategic role is highlighted by the fact that since September 27, some 3,635 third-country nationals from 29 countries have been repatriated through the island following their evacuation from Lebanon. He said several countries consider Cyprus an “assisted departure center and temporary secure location (TSL)” where the island’s ports, airports and designated temporary accommodations are used for civilian or military-led departures. He did not specify those countries.

He said Cyprus is ready to respond if and when a mass evacuation from Lebanon is initiated.

Another important initiative for which Cyprus has received international praise and which was singled out by Biden is the so-called Amalthea plan, which includes the establishment of the Cyprus-Gaza maritime corridor which resulted in some 20,000 tons of aid flowing into the Palestinian territory earlier this year.

Most of that aid reached Gaza through a US-built $230 million temporary pier project, which lasted about four months after being battered by turbulent weather, security threats and sweeping staffing cuts.

Christodoulides said efforts were underway to reactivate the maritime route to Gaza via the Israeli port of Ashdod in cooperation with the US, Britain, the United Arab Emirates and the European Union. The aid collected will be subject to security screening in Cyprus and shipped to Ashdod “for rapid onward delivery to Gaza.”

“We enjoy excellent, long-standing relations with our neighbors, underpinned by trust, and we have consistently acted as the voice of the region in the European Union, and as a reliable interlocutor and partner with all states in the region,” Christodoulides said.

About his decision to invite Officials from the FBI and the US Department of Justice To help Cypriot law enforcement officials put a stop to the evasion of Russian sanctions through Cypriot lawyers and accountants, Christodoulides said: “we are determined to clear our country’s name internationally and prove that Cyprus is a fully aligned state to the principles and values ​​of the West.”

He said “several cases” of possible sanctions evasion are being investigated “and the aim is to bring them to justice as quickly as possible.”

Regarding energy cooperation, Christodoulides said both are American energy giants ExxonMobil and Chevron being active in the search for hydrocarbons in Cyprus’ offshore economic zone is a “vote of confidence” in the island.

He said next year will be a “milestone” for both energy companies. ExxonMobil and partner QatarEnergy, which have discovered a significant natural gas resource in one of the two areas or blocks for which they hold exploration permits, will drill two additional wells in January next year.

Chevron is expected to complete refinement of a revised development plan for its Aphrodite gas field, which is estimated to contain approximately 4.2 trillion cubic feet of natural gas.

“With the first gas from the Aphrodite being sent to the market, Cyprus will automatically become a gas seller, which is extremely important not only in monetary terms but also for geopolitical reasons,” Christodoulides said.