Cyprus's defense minister, Vasilis Palmas, confirmed Wednesday that Greek F-16 fighter jets and a Greek Navy vessel now ...

Cyprus's defense minister, Vasilis Palmas, confirmed Wednesday that Greek F-16 fighter jets and a Greek Navy vessel now have a permanent presence on the island, a notable shift from his own statements just months ago that the deployment was strictly temporary. Speaking in Thessaloniki, where he attended the Ochi Day celebrations, Palmas said defense cooperation between Cyprus and Greece had moved "from slogans to political action." He described the political and military ties between Athens and Nicosia as excellent, noting the two are states that come from the same nation. The reversal is significant. In June, Palmas told reporters that "we have not discussed either a temporary extension or a permanent presence" and that the Greek assets would be reassessed when circumstances changed. Wednesday's remarks drew a clear line between that earlier position and the current one. The continuous Greek naval presence in Cyprus dates to March, after an Iranian-made drone fired from Lebanon struck the British Akrotiri base. The frigates Kimon and Psara were dispatched first, followed by the Elli and then the Nikiforos Fokas, which carries Greece's Kentavros counter-drone system and replaced the Elli in July after its near 100-day deployment. Palmas also confirmed that Cyprus signed a new contract with Israel on October 26 for the acquisition of an offshore patrol vessel, with Israel Shipyards building the vessel and Rafael Advanced Defence Systems supplying its naval systems. Israeli media reported the deal at around 150 million euros. The existing Ioannides patrol vessel will also be upgraded under the arrangement. Cypriot commandos participated in the Thessaloniki Ochi Day military parade for the first time, something Palmas described as both symbolically and practically significant. Cyprus has budgeted more than 1.28 billion euros for defense strengthening between 2027 and 2029. #Cyprus #Greece #EasternMediterranean