Cyprus is committed to making a meaningful contribution to regional stability, Defence Minister Vasilis Palmas said during a graduation ceremony for members of the Navy SEAL-type underwater demolition unit who successfully completed training at the 86th Underwater Demolition Teams School.
The ceremony took place on Friday at the Evangelos Florakis Naval Base in Mari.
National guard
According to a statement by the Cyprus National Guard, those attending included Justice and Public Order Minister Costas Fytiris, Deputy Minister for Migration and International Protection Nicholas Ioannides, senior National Guard officials, families of the graduates, representatives of state services and local authorities, retired officers and non-commissioned officers of the unit, as well as military personnel.
“Fifty-two years after the Turkish invasion, our homeland continues to experience its painful consequences in a geopolitical environment marked by increased instability and multiple areas of tension and conflict,” Palmas said.
He stressed that the National Guard remained a fundamental pillar of the defence of the Cyprus and a key deterrent force against any threat, adding that the continuous upgrading and modernisation of its capabilities and the maintenance of high operational readiness ensured the country would continue defending its sovereign rights and guaranteeing the security of its citizens.
“With this in mind,” he said, “the Ministry of Defence has moved ahead with targeted actions, while others are under way, aimed among other things at upgrading the capabilities of land and special forces, expanding land and aerial surveillance and reconnaissance capabilities, and modernising the command and control system for naval operations.”
Defence diplomacy
Palmas added that Cyprus would seek to address identified defence needs and strengthen its role within the European security system through the €1.18 billion SAFE programme of the European Union over the next five years.
He also said strengthening defence diplomacy remained a major priority through enhanced cooperation with European partners and friendly countries.
“In this context, and taking into account the role of the Republic of Cyprus as a pillar of stability and cooperation in the Eastern Mediterranean, combined with the obligations arising from our partnerships and participation in European programmes and humanitarian missions, the decision has been taken to upgrade the country’s naval and air force infrastructure,” the minister said.
Upgrading bases
He noted that the upgrading of naval and air bases represented not only an enhancement of Cyprus’ defence capabilities but also “practical proof of our willingness to contribute substantially to regional stability”, strengthening the country’s capacity to support humanitarian assistance and crisis management missions.
Palmas added that government planning extended beyond defence infrastructure to include strengthening the institutional framework governing service in the National Guard, upgrading the reserve force, environmental and energy policy, green development, digital transition and other related sectors.
“In every case, with the same sense of responsibility, we will continue our common effort to safeguard the territorial integrity and sovereign rights of the Republic of Cyprus through the upgrading of the National Guard’s capabilities and the strengthening of its deterrent capacity,” he said.
CNA
