Diko president Nikolas Papadopoulos has called for a permanent and more stable presence of European military forces in Cyprus, arguing that the country must position itself at the core of the emerging European defence and security architecture rather than remain a bystander.
Speaking at a Diko conference on defence challenges and prospects, Papadopoulos said the major geopolitical shifts unfolding in Europe and the Eastern Mediterranean represent a historic opportunity for the Republic of Cyprus that cannot be missed.
Among the proposals he set out, Papadopoulos called for Cyprus to be established as a pillar of a unified European defence and security policy in the Eastern Mediterranean, leveraging the country's strategic geographic position. He also proposed using approximately €1.2 billion that Cyprus could access through the European SAFE mechanism to upgrade the naval base at Mari and the Andreas Papandreou Air Base in Paphos.
On capabilities, he called for the development of modern air defence systems, Iron Dome-type protection and anti-drone capabilities to effectively shield the Republic against contemporary threats.
Papadopoulos said the security of the Republic of Cyprus is a matter of national survival and European credibility, and that Cyprus must convert its geostrategic position from a challenge into a powerful strategic advantage.
