Loss of TNT ‘an unfortunate event’ for the military

The strengthening of Cyprus’ defence capabilities, as well as the Republic’s adaptation to the current developments in the Middle East are among the key priorities for the future of the defence ministry, minister Vasilis Palmas said on Monday.

“The prolonged Turkish occupation of Cyprus and the geopolitical upheavals in the Eastern Mediterranean and the Middle East have brought the Republic of Cyprus face to face with new challenges,” he said.

The minister said 2025 was a year of “significant transformations” in reference to escalating conflicts, the reshaping of the international security system and the strengthening of strategic alliances.

“In this context, we have set clear goals fully aligned with the priorities of the President’s governance programme, with the aim of substantially strengthening the country’s deterrence and defence capabilities,” he said.

Palmas said the ministry’s objectives would continue to centre on the strengthening of deterrence and security, digital transformation and the promotion of clean environmental practices such as the use of renewable energy sources in National Guard facilities.

With respect to the loss of 13.6 kilograms of explosives from a military firing range, Palmas said the incident was an “unfortunate event” for both the ministry and the national guard.

He said that relevant examinations had identified those responsible, who would face consequences, while the police investigation continued, leaving no possibility unconsidered.

Elsewhere, he said the majority of the goals were achieved in the field of armaments.

This included increasing ammunition stocks, enhancing the capabilities of land forces and strengthening the special forces.

At the same time, the ministry moved forward with the upgrading of surveillance and reconnaissance capabilities, as well as the digitalisation of naval command and control systems.

In view of the infrastructure in the context of the developing geopolitical challenges in the region, he highlighted planned upgrades to Cypriot naval bases and emphasised the importance of support from friendly countries within the framework of bilateral cooperation, as well as the importance of Cyprus’ participation in European programmes such as SAFE.

“It was decided to upgrade the Evangelos Florakis naval base in Mari and the Andreas Papandreou air base in Paphos,” he said.

This added to the field of defence diplomacy, in which Palmas said that cooperation with Greece was of a particularly high standard, as demonstrated by the dispatch of two frigates and four F16 fighter jets to bolster Cyprus’ defences.

He also spoke of plans to strengthen cooperation with countries such as Israel, Egypt, Jordan and Armenia, as well as to promote new cooperation with Serbia, the United Arab Emirates and India.