Norway’s decision to lift its arms embargo on Cyprus marks a significant shift in international relations, according to Defence Minister Vasilis Palmas. Speaking on Saturday at Paphos’ Andreas Papandreou airbase, Palmas expressed his satisfaction with the Norwegian government’s move, which ends a 65-year restriction on military equipment exports to Cyprus.
- However, the political landscape in the US remains uncertain due to a government shutdown, complicating the passage of the budget and potentially impacting arms decisions.
Palmas remarked, “Norway had decided in areas where there are war situations to have an embargo on equipment, and after 65 years, we are pleased to report that the Norwegian government’s decision is to lift the embargo… We consider it a good development.” His comments highlight the importance of this decision in bolstering Cyprus’s defence capabilities.
In a related context, he noted the recent extension of the United States’ arms embargo suspension on Cyprus for another year. He mentioned a bill currently on the Senate order paper, introduced by the Senate’s foreign relations committee on October 30, which proposes a five-year suspension of the embargo. Should this legislation pass, Palmas believes it will enhance the operational capacity of Cyprus’s National Guard.
However, the political landscape in the US remains uncertain due to a government shutdown, complicating the passage of the budget and potentially impacting arms decisions.
The lift of the embargo was communicated to President Nikos Christodoulides by Norway’s Foreign Minister, Espen Barth Eide. Christodoulides described the move as “an important step towards enhancing bilateral defence cooperation.” He welcomed the Norwegian decision to open applications for the export of defence-related and dual-use products to Cyprus, emphasising its role in strengthening defence ties.
Conversely, the reaction from the Turkish Cypriot leadership was markedly negative. Unal Ustel, the Turkish Cypriot ‘prime minister’, labelled the decision as “an extremely unfortunate step.” He expressed concern over the implications of a former UN peace envoy now facilitating an arms export, calling it a contradiction in international diplomacy. Ustel stated, “This approach, which disregards the security of the Turkish Cypriot people and the delicate balance on the island, is incompatible with the principles of neutrality.”
Palmas’s visit to the airbase coincides with discussions about a potential €14 million upgrade of the facility. President Christodoulides has indicated that the US may provide financial assistance for improvements to both the Andreas Papandreou airbase and the Evangelos Florakis naval base in Mari. Palmas previously estimated that upgrades at Mari could exceed €200 million.
