Greek Cypriots to spend record money on armament program

By Ahmet Gencurk

ANKARA (AA) - The Greek Cypriot administration will spend a record amount of money in 2023 on an armament program, according to a media report.

The Cyprus Mail newspaper reported Monday that €200 million ($205 million) will be spent on drones, modern air defense systems and Airbus attack helicopters. The report cited remarks by Defense Minister Charalambos Petrides to parliament during a review of his ministry’s budget for 2023.

Petrides said the armed forces will strengthen existing infrastructures and build new ones, including training facilities, ammo depots and warehouses and also expand its fleet of vehicles -- trucks, excavators and search and rescue vessels.

The US announced in September that under the Defense Department National Guard’s State Partnership Program, the Greek Cypriot administration has been paired with the National Guard in the American state of New Jersey.

Washington also lifted an arms embargo in that month on the Greek Cypriot administration that was in effect since 1987 -- a move strongly condemned by Türkiye and the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC).

In recent months, Greek Cypriot media reported that the administration is negotiating with Israel to purchase Iron Dome air defense systems.

As the US lifted the decades-old arms embargo, the purchase of US-made arms is also on the table, according to multiple media reports.