Cyprus is included in the military sales programs of the U.S. Defense and Security Cooperation Agency, which allows the country to purchase military equipment directly from the U.S. government.

The decision was made on January 15 after signing the agreements on joining the three key programs.

As of 22:00 local time, Cyprus participates in the U.S. Foreign Military Sales Program (FMS), the Defense Surplus Products Program (EDA), and the Section 10 Security Assistance Provisions of the U.S. Armed Forces.

The FMS program provides Cyprus with the opportunity to purchase equipment directly from the US government. This solution reduces costs, as it allows you to bypass private companies that previously acted as intermediaries. It is expected that this model of cooperation will provide access to better equipment and training for the Cyprus National Guard, as well as expand opportunities to participate in joint exercises with the US Army.

The EDA program, which allows friendly countries to purchase surplus US military equipment, will become a tool for modernizing the Cypriot armed forces. Such equipment is provided at a reduced cost or free of charge. For comparison, from 2013 to 2023, Greece made 423 EDA purchases, Israel – 2436, and Turkey — one.

Section 10 is aimed at strengthening Cyprus’ defense capabilities and will allow the country to use the latest NATO technologies and standards.

The decision to include the United States in the programs is part of Cyprus’ strategy to strengthen defense cooperation with Western partners. Earlier, the country was forced to look for alternatives to Russian military equipment due to sanctions imposed in connection with the conflict in Ukraine.

In recent months, Cyprus has been modernizing its defense infrastructure by purchasing French Mistral missiles as part of an EU financial assistance package. This technique will be compatible with equipment purchased through US programs.

These steps strengthen Cyprus’ position as a defense partner of the West. According to representatives of the Ministry of Defense, such agreements provide access to advanced technologies and allow the country to confidently cope with modern security challenges.

A source: cyprus-mail.com

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