Defence Minister Vasilis Palmas will travel to Paris on Tuesday, 16 June, where he will inaugurate the Cypriot pavilion at Eurosatory 2026, the world's largest defence industry and military equipment exhibition.
Palmas told CNA that in the framework of his visit, he will also hold a number of bilateral meetings, including one with Brazil's Deputy Defence Minister.
According to Palmas, Cyprus and Brazil had defence cooperation in the 1980s, during which Cyprus purchased armoured vehicles from Brazil.
In Paris, the Minister will inaugurate the Cypriot pavilion at Eurosatory, the world's largest military equipment exhibition. Palmas said that several Cypriot defense industry companies will be participating in the pavilion.
He will then hold a series of bilateral meetings at various levels, he added.
Asked about a report in a local daily newspaper referring to decisions regarding the permanent presence of Greek military forces in Cyprus, Palmas said that there is currently nothing to announce on the matter.
At present, the Greek frigate 'Elli', which is equipped with an anti-drone system, remains in Cyprus's territorial waters, while four Greek F-16 fighter jets are also still stationed in Cyprus, he said.
"They are here, and we are in daily communication and coordination, whether at the level of the National Guard Chief or at the ministerial level," he said regarding cooperation with the Greek government.
"Depending on the circumstances and developments that arise, we will announce the decisions we will take," he added, when asked about the possibility of their permanent deployment in Cyprus.
In addition, when asked about a report in another local daily newspaper concerning French-Cypriot joint production projects amounting to €800 million, through the SAFE program, the Minister told CNA that the "consistently excellent" cooperation with France continues at both the political and military levels.
"We signed the SOFA (Status of Forces Agreement) military agreement last week, which further strengthens and facilitates our relationship," he said. He added that within the framework of the European Commission's SAFE Regulation, the largest and most substantial portion of cooperation funding is directed toward bilateral programs with France.
Specifically, he stated that two-thirds of Cyprus's €1.2 billion SAFE program concerns cooperation with French companies.
"What we have emphasised, because we want to give a boost to the Cypriot defence industry, is that the countries with which we cooperate in the production of various defence programs should seek partners and collaborators from the Cypriot defence industry," he noted. He added that it is up to the companies involved to decide which Cypriot firms they will select to participate in these projects.
"We do not interfere in that process," he said.
(Source: CNA)
