The Cyprus army has officially rejected the proposed Greek Leopard 1A5 main battle tanks, citing dissatisfaction with their condition as a primary concern. This decision comes after a delegation from Cyprus conducted an on-site inspection of the vehicles Athens was willing to transfer.
During the inspection, it became clear that the Leopard tanks did not meet the operational requirements necessary to enhance the capabilities of the National Guard. The current fleet is comprised of outdated EE-9 Cascavel wheeled armoured vehicles, some of which were originally delivered in 1980, and the need for a more effective armoured solution is pressing.
Reports suggested that an agreement between Cyprus and Greece was imminent, contingent on the tanks being operationally fit to address the strategic deficiencies in the National Guard’s arsenal. However, the findings from the inspection dashed those hopes, and no formal agreement has been reached.
Despite the setback regarding the Leopard tanks, the Ministry of Defence and the National Guard General Staff (GEEF) remain committed to strengthening Cyprus’s armoured capabilities. Among the alternatives being considered, the Israeli Merkava tanks are currently at the forefront of discussions.
However, developments concerning the Merkava tanks are complicated by ongoing military operations in southern Lebanon, where the Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) have deployed significant armoured resources. This situation has put a hold on any potential negotiations or acquisitions of the Merkava tanks for the time being.
