The further development of the defence and military cooperation between Greece and Cyprus, the developments in Ukraine and in the Middle East as well as the prospect of extending the trilateral cooperation with other countries dominated National Defence Minister Nikos Dendias’ meeting with his counterpart of the Cyprus Republic Vasilios Palmas in Athens.
As Dendias said, the prerequisite for anyone who wants to participate is to respect the international law, and respect the Law of the Sea and the UN’s Charter.
Palmas briefed Dendias in detail on Turkiye’s provocative actions in the buffer zone while the Greek minister expressed the hope that the talks of the UN special representative to Cyprus with the Turkish Cypriot part opens a window of optimism.
On the Greek-Turkish issues he expressed his hope for peace: “The road is difficult there is no room for complacency”.
Palmas expressed his support both for Greece’s participation in the operations at the Red Sea and the freedom of navigation as well as for developing European potential at EU level. He also said that Cyprus is looking forward to closer cooperation with the US, after the lifting of the weapons embargo, as it will enhance its role in the region of the Eastern Mediterranean.
In parallel, he reasserted that Greece and Cyprus will continue their efforts towards futher coordination and more effective cooperation, while Cyprus – in total agreement with Greece and its EU partners – “remains focused on the struggle for the defence of national independence, territorial integrity and sovereign rights”.
The defense Minister of Cyprus invited Dendias to visit Cyprus, something that Dendias accepted.
US arms agreements with Greece
Following the two ministers’ meeting, Dendias also said that Greece is considering the joint design and production of up to seven American new-generation ‘Constellation’ frigates at Greek shipyards.
As Dendias detailed, the Hellenic Navy General Staff received a special letter by the relevant American service welcoming Greece’s interest. He added that such an agreement, which would also take the Greek Navy’s needs into account, would allow Greece to participate in the design from the start. Greece is reviewing whether the LCS frigates, which the United States will provide to Greece through a framework of free provision of a series of means, could provide an interim solution.
The Greek defense minister also said that he had discussed with his Cyprus Republic counterpart Palmas the extension of the naval base Evangelos Florakis at Mari, southern Cyprus, in order to accomodate modern frigates like the Belharras. He also extended an invitation to Cyprus to participate in innovation-boosting programs included in a new bill to be posted for public consultation shortly.
Referring to the supply of F-35s to Greece, Dendias said that the relevant American service had sent Greece a letter of agreement for the offer and acceptance of the jets’ sale to Greece. It is too early to discuss pricing, he said, as the process is complicated. He asserted that when the Greek side makes its own assessments, they will be made public.
These actions will contribute to Greece, and to stability in the region, and security to Europe.ΠΕ
