‘The future is very bright’ US Ambassador John Breslow has told CNA about Cyprus – US defence and military cooperation.
In his first interview since the assumption of his duties in September, given on board the USS Ro?sevelt, which visited the port of Limassol, and after US navy and marines marched for the first time at the annual Independence Day parade Ambassador Breslow replies to questions about defence and military cooperation between the two countries.
Asked to give some examples of what has been achieved since a 2024-2029 roadmap for bilateral defence cooperation was signed between Cyprus and the US the Ambassador said that ‘the roadmap has already started, and it’s going great.’
‘I would just tell you it’s for five years and it will be up about the end of President Trump’s term,’ he noted, adding that ‘one thing I want to do for sure is when that happens before President Trump leaves office, because he appointed me, is to call him and say, hey, this needs to be extended for, you know, another term.’
As to actions taken so far to do with the Roadmap Ambassador Breslow spoke of a planned increase of some facilities at the Paphos Airport and the US and Cyprus Cyclops program, ‘which is a wonderful program’, as he noted. He explained that that in the context of Cyclops, a US funded training centre in Cyprus, training sessions have taken place in areas such as cyber security and border security, adding that training is with the New Jersey National Guard mostly.
‘A lot of people have benefited from it and it’s a wonderful, wonderful program,’ he added.
As to a likely renewal of the Roadmap the US Ambassador said that ‘it’s kind of too early to talk about renewal now. We’re in the middle of it, but it should be renewed because it’s breaking new ground for Cyprus and the United States.’
Asked about the presence of the USS Roosevelt in Limassol port and whether it marks a new era of visits in Cyprus by US vessels and whether there are any plans for joint exercises to bolster naval security in the region Ambassador Breslow said that ‘I think there are plans for a lot of different military operations here in Cyprus, for defensive operations.’
‘And the future is really bright,’ he noted, adding however that ‘I can’t delineate on some of them.’
Invited to divulge something that he would be able to say he replied: ‘Well, I think that you’re going to see more destroyers and ships come to port just like this one and drop off. And there are some exercises that they’re doing together, like the Cyclops. And so, we just want to continue that.’
Replying to a question about US position on an eventual membership of Cyprus to NATO and whether the US would support an application of Cyprus to the Partnership for Peace program the US Ambassador said that ‘first of all, let me just tell you that I think the issue of Cyprus joining NATO first begins with the people of Cyprus. I mean, I think they have to decide that that’s something that they want to do.’
‘And I think the abilities that the United States and Cyprus are putting together is almost like NATO. I mean, the United States is going to protect Cyprus in the future. And I think that’s really important. And so, what happens in the future, I can’t predict. I don’t think anybody can predict, but I think the United States is going to be very, very supportive,’ the Ambassador said.
Asked what would the US government’s position be on a permanent lifting of the arms embargo to Cyprus which is now renewed every year he replied that ‘I can’t tell you what the government’s position is, but I can tell you there’s increased momentum from the Senate to increase the time of ITAR.’
‘They’ve talked about three years, five years,’ he added. ‘Senator (Cory) Booker, I know, is very interested in doing that. And some of his people were here recently and we talked about it,’ he said. So, Ambassador Breslow continued, ‘I think in the future maybe ITAR can be extended, but it’s not my decision. I obviously don’t make policy. It’s the Congress and the President that does that.’ ‘But I think there’s some momentum to get that done,’ he noted.
Invited to say how he finds Cyprus he explained that ‘I’ve only been here for a month. I’ve never been to Cyprus. I couldn’t come until I was confirmed by the Senate.’
‘I love Cyprus. My wife Sonia and I have really fallen in love with it. In fact, we’ve been taking tour trips around the island. And on our first trip, my wife said to me, ‘I love this place. When you’re done being Ambassador, I want to live here.’ So that ought to tell you how much we love it,’ he noted.
Asked to say what his thoughts are as he begins his term as Ambassador to Cyprus, he replied that ‘I am very excited about serving. In fact, even though I’ve only been here for one month, I can see at the end I’m going to be very sad to leave Cyprus. I really enjoy it. Such a challenge.’
‘And the people I have met are so nice and so wonderful. And one of the things that amazes me is it seems like everybody’s smiling and everybody loves what they’re doing,’ Ambassador Breslow concluded.