Israel eyes Cyprus for foothold in EU defence market

Israeli defence companies are interested in establishing operations in Cyprus to potentially benefit from the European Union’s SAFE defence financing programme, as President Isaac Herzog held talks with President Nikos Christodoulides in Nicosia on Thursday. The issue was among those discussed during Herzog’s one-day working visit, with the two sides also examining defence cooperation and Cyprus’ plans to acquire additional military equipment from Israel. Speaking to the Cyprus Mail , Professor Michalis Stavrinos, a former diplomat who lectures in international politics at the European University of Cyprus, said the timing of the Herzog visit was timely “given regional developments and Turkey’s own bolstered presence in the eastern Mediterranean”.

He further remarked upon Cyprus’ cooperation over the Great Sea Interconnector, the European project involving the southern corridor and the indirect security coverage provided by Greece and Israel’s Achilles Shield defence system as indicators of a “strategic alignment” with Israel. He referred to the recent Mecca joint defence agreement between Turkey, Saudi Arabia and Pakistan, saying Cyprus’ cooperation with Israel could provide a counterbalance to the new regional arrangement, “more so one would say than with Greece alone”. Cyprus is eligible for up to €1. 18 billion in financing under Safe, the EU’s ‘security action for Europe programme’, which is designed to support defence investment by member states. Cyprus submitted its investment plan last year and the European Investment Bank approved it in January, with the EU subsequently approving the loan agreement. Under Safe rules, however, an Israeli company establishing a presence in Cyprus would not automatically be granted unhindered access to procurement. Contractors…