The upgrading of cooperation with France gives the Republic of Cyprus greater strategic depth and reinforces its role as a pillar of stability in the Eastern Mediterranean, said Defence Minister Vasilis Palmas, following the signing of the SOFA (Status of Forces Agreement) between the Republic of Cyprus and France, on the sidelines of the informal meeting of EU Defence Ministers in Nicosia on Monday.
On her part, French Defence Minister, Catherine Vautrin assured of France’s unwavering solidarity with Cyprus whenever its interests and security are threatened.
Palmas said that during the meeting with his French counterpart, they reaffirmed the long-standing strong ties that bind the two countries and highlighted aspects of their cooperation, which is grounded in a solid foundation of mutual trust and shared objectives.
He added that this cooperation is reflected in coordination on regional security issues, as well as in the development of strategic partnerships in areas including defence and security.
He added that the cooperation between the two countries in the procurement of defence systems, as well as their joint participation in the four-party cooperation mechanism with Greece and Italy, falls within this same framework.
He also said that the close cooperation between Cyprus and France is also reflected both at the operational level, through the regular presence and activities of French forces in the region, and at the institutional level through joint initiatives within the framework of the European Union and other international frameworks.
“In any case, as we have repeatedly stated and demonstrated, the Republic of Cyprus aims to consolidate security and peace in the region. With this in mind, we will continue to invest in partnerships and initiatives that promote constructive dialogue, strengthen security, and create the conditions for sustainable peace in the Eastern Mediterranean,” Palmas concluded.
French Defence Minister, Catherine Vautrin, started by congratulating Cyprus on its strong Presidency and also expressed thanks “for the quality of our discussions and the prospects for strengthening our armed forces to meet the many challenges we face in Europe.”
She also referred to President Nikos Christodoulides’ visit to Paris last December, during which the French and Cypriot presidents signed a strategic partnership between the two countries, elevating their bilateral relationship, while just a few weeks ago, President Emmanuel Macron was in Cyprus.
“Cyprus is a key base for conducting our military operations in the Eastern Mediterranean and the Middle East. The ports of Larnaca and Limassol host around thirty French port calls each year – 21 so far since 1 January – and the cooperation between our navies is to be commended”, she further noted, adding that Cypriot and French naval forces train together regularly, as in the Argonaut and Eunomia exercises, “which demonstrate our shared commitment to strengthening maritime security, freedom of navigation and our collective ability to respond to crises in this strategic region.”
She added that in the air domain, Cypriot infrastructure provides an ideal framework for French logistical support, as well as surveillance and air defence capabilities that are so valuable to French deployed forces.
In terms of capabilities, she said, France supports the modernisation of Cypriot forces. “Our discussions today have, in fact, focused on this very subject. We share with Cyprus a common vision of European defence centred on strengthening Europe’s strategic autonomy,” she added.
