The government of Cyprus has officially approved a detailed plan to buy new military equipment. This decision is part of a major European Union defence project. The government describes it as a very important step to improve the country's security. After a meeting on Thursday, the Cabinet agreed to the plan under the EU's SAFE programme. They will officially send this plan to the European Commission on November 30th.
This initiative gives Cyprus access to a large amount of money—€1.2 billion—in the form of long-term, low-cost loans. When he announced the decision, Defence Minister Vasilis Palmas was very clear about the purpose of the new equipment. He directly stated that all the systems on the list are only for defence. He repeated this point to prevent any future criticism. “The programmes on this list do not, under any circumstances, involve weapons for attack,” Minister Palmas said. “They are purely for defensive purposes.”
The Minister connected this significant defence spending to the country's history. He reminded everyone that “Cyprus has been an occupied country for the last 51 years.” This long-standing situation helps explain why the government believes updating its defence systems is an essential and sovereign right. The EU created the SAFE programme after Russia's invasion of Ukraine, which changed the political situation in Europe. Its goal is to help countries buy equipment together and make Europe's defences stronger.
For security reasons, Minister Palmas did not name the exact equipment on the list. However, he explained their strategic approach to buying it. While many people might think they will buy from large companies in France or Germany, the Minister suggested a wider search. “Not only France and Germany,” he noted, “there are other countries with which we can jointly produce armaments.” This indicates that Cyprus plans to work with various partner nations eligible under the programme, including other EU members, Ukraine, and allied countries.
The next step is for Cyprus to send its investment plan to Brussels. The European Commission will then review all the plans from member states. The first payments of money are not expected until the beginning of 2026. In Cyprus, the loans will be managed by the Ministries of Defence and Finance and included in the yearly state budget. The plan will finally need approval from the Cypriot Parliament. This decision represents a key moment for Cyprus as it works to strengthen its defences through a cooperative European system.