Nicosia, Cyprus. A reported shift in France’s position on the possible sale of advanced SAMP/T air defence systems to Turkey is likely to draw close attention in Cyprus amid deepening defence ties between Nicosia and Paris. The reported change comes as the European Union pursues broader efforts to strengthen its security architecture.
Reported change in French position
According to a Reuters report published on Monday, France is now open to the possibility of selling the Franco-Italian SAMP/T air defence system to Turkey after years of political opposition, potentially paving the way for more substantive talks with Ankara.
The report came ahead of this week’s Nato summit in Ankara, where defence industry and investment are heading the agenda.
Cyprus-France defence cooperation
Earlier this year, Cyprus and France signed a Status of Forces Agreement, deepening defence cooperation and further consolidating France’s strategic presence in the Eastern Mediterranean.
According to the Reuters report, two sources cautioned that France would need to appease Greece and Cyprus over any potential sale given the Status of Forces Agreement with both countries.
Italian support and ongoing hesitations
Turkish officials privately and publicly regarded France as the principal political obstacle to the programme, while Italy has long been in favour of sharing the SAMP/T with Turkey to deepen defence industry cooperation.
Reuters reported that the change in position followed talks between French President Emmanuel Macron and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni during a summit on June 25, although negotiations remain at an early stage.
“One source familiar with the discussions told Reuters: ‘Before, there was a clear lack of openness, now there is openness.’”
The report said Paris had set aside some of the political reservations that had previously blocked progress, although hesitations remained.
French response and regional view
The French presidency did not confirm the information and referred to “significant inaccuracies”, without specifying what these were.
Senior Policy Advisor and Head of the Observatory of Geopolitics and Diplomacy at the Hellenic Foundation for Foreign and European Policy Ino Afentouli told the Cyprus Mail that “many EU member states consider Turkey an indispensable component of European defence because of its military capabilities”.
