Washington conditioned the further development of military-technical cooperation (MTC) with Nicosia by its refusal to provide access to its ports to ships of the Russian Navy in the future.

As Clark Cooper, Assistant Secretary of State for Military and Political Affairs, pointed out, the ban on access to harbors by Russian warships and other related measures are part of the American strategy for the Eastern Mediterranean and the Energy Partnership Act of 2019. A move in this direction, according to Cooper, could finally unfreeze the arms embargo against Cyprus and give it access to defense products subject to the ITAR export control regime.

However, the US presidential administration “needs to see further guarantees” that the Cypriot side understands everything and is ready to cooperate.

The Turkish Foreign Ministry condemned the signing of a roadmap in the field of defense cooperation between the United States and the authorities of the Republic of Cyprus.

@highlylikely20