The defence industry could contribute double digit percentages to Cyprus’ GDP in the coming years, President Nikos Christodoulides said on Thursday, describing investment in the sector as “a strategic necessity” during his address at the opening of the BATTLEFIELD ReDEFiNED 2026 conference in Nicosia. He also outlined the government’s ambition for Cyprus to “move beyond being a consumer of defense solutions and become a producer… that actively shapes the European defense landscape.”
The international conference and exhibition BATTLEFIELD ReDEFiNED 2026, focused on defence, security and innovation cooperation, is organised by the Cyprus Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the Cyprus Association of Research and Innovation Enterprises and C.D Multimedia Services Ltd, and is taking place on 26 and 27 February at Pavilion Hall in the capital, bringing together European institutions, national authorities, innovation actors and industry experts to examine how policy and technology can translate into real readiness and deployable capability.
Opening the conference, the President, Nikos Christodoulides, set out what he described as a clear national objective, stating: “My vision, our vision, is for Cyprus to move beyond being a consumer of defense solutions and become a producer. To become a force that actively shapes the European defense landscape, through innovation, through cutting-edge technologies, through high-quality manufacturing.” He also pointed to the sector’s recent growth, noting that the Cyprus defence industry “has emerged as a strategic pillar of our national security and industrial policy,” while highlighting the progress already achieved by domestic companies in European programmes.
He noted that over the past five years 18 Cypriot companies have participated in 44 European Defence Industrial Development Programmes and European Defence Fund projects with a combined total budget of approximately €600 million, securing around €48 million in direct funding and strengthening Cyprus’ position within Europe’s defence supply chain. According to the President, the country is “gradually evolving from a participant to a meaningful contributor to Europe’s defense and dual use technological ecosystem.”
The conference is held under the auspices of Cyprus’ Presidency of the Council of the European Union, placing the country at the centre of Europe’s strategic dialogue on security, innovation and defence readiness during what the President described as “turbulent times,” pointing to the war in Ukraine, regional conflicts and emerging hybrid and cyber threats.
Christodoulides also outlined a series of government measures to support the sector, including the drafting of a National Defence Industry Strategy in cooperation with the European Commission, a target of 15 percent participation for Cypriot companies in major defence procurements, increased funding to support the transition from research to industrial production, and the creation of a National Registry of Defence Industry Manufacturers.
A significant milestone announced during the event is the signing of the SOLIS satellite communications project in cooperation with Hellas Sat, the French National Space Agency and industrial partners, which the President described as “a significant strategic milestone for the Republic of Cyprus” that will strengthen national security and the country’s geopolitical role in the Eastern Mediterranean and the European Union.
Closing his remarks, the President reaffirmed government support for the sector, stating that “your success is not only an industrial achievement; your success is a strategic asset for Cyprus and for Europe,” and expressing confidence that Cyprus can develop into a regional hub for advanced defence technologies.