Cyprus’ defence industry has reached a point where it can produce products to strengthen both the country’s defence and other services in the wider spectrum of the Republic of Cyprus, Defence Minister, Vasilis Palmas, said on Tuesday after the first meeting of the newly established Defence Industry Council, at the Presidential Palace, chaired by President, Nikos Christodoulides.
The Minister also said that Cyprus has submitted a proposal in relation to the strengthening of the defence of the European Union.
In his statements after the meeting, the Minister said that the Council met under the President of the Republic and discussed the various issues that concern the defence industry policy, we exchanged views and we set short-term, medium-term and long-term goals,” he said.
All of us realised, he added, “that things have matured to such an extent that we can be proud that the Cyprus defence industry can manufacture products to strengthen both the defence of the country, but also other services, state and others, in the wider spectrum of the Republic of Cyprus.”
Palmas also said that this government decision to establish this advisory body – the Defence Industry Council – would contribute “to the knowledge and experience we need to give that further impetus that the defence industry needs and to move from theory to practice and be in a position as the Ministry of Defence to go from a ministry that spends resources from the state budget to a ministry that will now contribute to the country’s gross domestic product with the development of the Cypriot defence industry.”
In response to a journalist’s question, Palmas said that there are now several companies in Cyprus which can directly manufacture products that contribute to the armament programmes of the Republic of Cyprus.
Asked about statements on Monday by European Commission President, Ursula von der Leyen, that she would present to the leaders of the member states on March 6 a comprehensive plan for upgrading the production and capabilities of the European defence industry and whether Cyprus could contribute to this effort, the Minister said that “Cyprus can contribute”.
He added that Cyprus was one of the countries that submitted proposals “in this direction” as regards the upcoming European Council meeting “to finally look at the issues to do with strengthening EU defence in a more concrete and clearer way.”
The Cyprus Defence Industry Council was established in January 2025, by decision of the Council of Ministers, and according to a statement of the Defence Ministry, it “constitutes an important step towards the development and strengthening of Cyprus’ defence industry sector.”
It also said that during Tuesday’s meeting, the Council expressed the commitment to work towards the formulation of a comprehensive policy framework to strengthen the country’s defence industry, aiming at the medium and long-term sustainability and competitiveness of the sector, as well as reducing the National Guard’s supply dependence on foreign companies.