The continuous upgrading of the National Guard, both in terms of human resources and technological capabilities, is a key pillar of our strategy to strengthen the security of our country, said the President of the Republic, Nikos Christodoulides, speaking on Wednesday evening during an event marking the 25th anniversary of CyBC programme on defence issues.
Referring to current challenges, the President said that “beyond the Turkish occupation, beyond the occupation of 37% of the territory of the Republic of Cyprus and the need to monitor the ceasefire line, our country’s geographical position in a region of particular geostrategic importance, which, as we see, is constantly plagued by crises, creates increased obligations in both the defence and foreign sectors, and all of this is linked in the field of internal and external security.”
“Migration, terrorism, smuggling, piracy, and the asymmetric threats we face are challenges that require the constant readiness of the security forces of the Republic of Cyprus,” he stressed. Within this framework, and as the closest EU member state in the region, the Republic of Cyprus is called upon, through actions rather than words, to respond to humanitarian and other missions, as well as search and rescue operations, he noted.
“And precisely because of the factors I mentioned earlier, the Turkish occupation, geographical location, EU membership, the continuous upgrading of the National Guard, the continuous strengthening of our country’s deterrent power, both in terms of human resources and technological capabilities, is a key pillar of our strategy to enhance our country’s security,” he stressed.
He added that this goal is being achieved through specific actions, such as, among many others, the use of the EU’s SAFE financial instrument, which provides the amount of pound 1.2 billion for the Republic of Cyprus.
The President of the Republic also referred to the supply of military equipment from the United States of America through the Excess Defense Articles and Foreign Military Sales programs, noting that thanks to the government’s actions, the participation of the Republic of Cyprus was secured in January 2024. The Ministry of Defence has already made a plan for the specific utilization of these programs, as well as the utilization of the promising Cypriot defence industry and the upgrading of critical infrastructure, such as the Andreas Papandreou Air Base and the Evangelos Florakis Naval Base, he added.
“Our government strongly supports the National Guard and invests in its continuous upgrading and strengthening in terms of equipment, infrastructure, and, of course, human resources. Our officers and non-commissioned officers, all the members of the National Guard, are a valuable asset for our country, for achieving the goal of establishing, first and foremost, a sense of security for our citizens, and we are proud of the multifaceted role played by the National Guard,” emphasized the President of the Republic.
Cyprus has been divided since 1974, when Turkey invaded and occupied its northern third. Repeated rounds of UN-led peace talks have so far failed to yield results. The latest round of negotiations, in July 2017 at the Swiss resort of Crans-Montana ended inconclusively.