The Republic of Cyprus will sign a contract next week for a second offshore vessel from Israel, Defence Minister Vasilis Palmas has announced. He confirmed earlier reports in Israeli media about the purchase. Palmas also set out a timeline for upgrading the country’s military bases, with work expected to begin around the end of spring 2027.
Second offshore vessel
Speaking on a programme on the state broadcaster, Palmas referred to efforts to strengthen Cyprus’s defence capabilities.
“Next week we will sign the contract for a vessel which we have purchased from the Israelis,” he said.
He clarified that it is an offshore vessel similar to the one currently operated by the Navy of the Republic of Cyprus. Once it is acquired, Cyprus will have two such vessels, strengthening its maritime security capabilities.
Air and naval base upgrades
On the upgrade of the Andreas Papandreou air base and the naval base, Palmas said: “Our ambition is to start the works around the end of spring 2027.”
An agreement has already been signed with a company from Greece to carry out the study for upgrading the naval base. The base will gain the capacity to host warships and submarines.
At the same time, close cooperation with the United States is under way on modernising the air base. The works will be carried out in stages, so that the facilities remain operational.
€1.18 billion for defence
Palmas also referred to the use of a European financing regulation, under which €1.18 billion has been approved to strengthen the defence of the Republic of Cyprus.
He confirmed that discussions with the United States are at a preliminary stage on the acquisition of one or two additional defence systems. He did not give further details.
Turkish-Libyan memorandum
Referring to the Turkish-Libyan memorandum, Palmas said it has no legal basis. He noted that the Republic of Cyprus has already taken initial démarches through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
