US ambassador sees bright future for Cyprus-US defence cooperation
US Ambassador John Breslow said the Cyprus-US defence roadmap is progressing well and should be extended, with more US naval visits expected.
Limassol, Cyprus. US Ambassador John Breslow said on Sunday that the future of Cyprus-US defence and military cooperation was “very bright” and that the bilateral defence roadmap for 2024-2029 was already progressing well.
Defence roadmap and renewal
Speaking aboard the USS Roosevelt during its visit to Limassol port, Breslow told the Cyprus News Agency that the roadmap signed between Cyprus and the United States “has already started, and it’s going great.” His remarks followed the first participation of US Navy personnel and Marines in the annual Independence Day parade.
Breslow said the roadmap would expire around the end of President Donald Trump’s term. He said he wanted to call Trump, who appointed him, before the president left office to advocate extending the agreement for another term.
Although it was too early to discuss renewal while the roadmap was still being implemented, Breslow said it should be renewed because it was “breaking new ground for Cyprus and the United States.”
Facilities and training
Measures already underway under the roadmap include a planned expansion of some facilities at Paphos airport and the joint US-Cyprus Cyclops programme.
Cyclops is a US-funded training centre where cyber and border security sessions have already taken place with the New Jersey National Guard.
“A lot of people have benefited from it and it’s a wonderful, wonderful programme,” Breslow said.
Naval visits and defensive operations
Asked whether the USS Roosevelt’s presence marked a new era of US vessel visits to Cyprus and whether joint exercises were planned to strengthen regional naval security, Breslow said he believed there were plans for various military operations in Cyprus focused on defence.
He said he expected more destroyers and other ships to make similar port calls, and pointed to joint exercises, including Cyclops, as cooperation the two countries wanted to continue.
Cyprus and Nato
Asked about the US position on Cyprus joining Nato and whether Washington would support its entry into the Partnership for Peace programme, Breslow said the question of Nato membership began with the people of Cyprus.
“They have to decide that that’s something that they want to do,” he said.
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