Filenews 23 June 2025 - by Vasos Vassiliou
Cyprus may not be involved or unwilling to be involved in war crises that are caused from time to time in the wider region and is considered to be simply used as a transit station for nationals of various countries to their homelands, but the agreements it has signed with the United States and France create commitments that it cannot ignore.
The agreement with France provides, inter alia, that French personnel, goods, material, weapons, ammunition, vehicles, vessels, aircraft, including temporary stopping points along transit routes, may be stationed in Cyprus for the period of time required for the Evacuation Operation. The agreement also aims to remove French or citizens of other countries from the Middle East. In this case, Cyprus will be used as a stopover for the evacuation of civilians from Bahrain, Egypt, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Oman, the Palestinian territories, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Syria, Turkey, the United Arab Emirates and Yemen.
It is noted that the agreement was signed at an unsuspected time, namely in September 2022, when the conflict between Hamas and Israel had not broken out. As stated in a relevant text, "the purpose of the Agreement is to institutionalize the cooperation of the two states during evacuation operations in the context of a crisis situation from the Middle East through the territory of the Republic of Cyprus".
Among other things, the agreement, which also invokes the cooperation of the two countries on defense issues (of 2017), provides for the following:
>> French personnel, goods, material, weapons, ammunition, vehicles, vessels, aircraft, including temporary stopping points along transit routes, may be stationed in Cyprus for the period of time required for the Evacuation Operation.
>> The personnel of the Sending Party (France) shall enjoy the necessary freedom of movement for the performance of their duties within the sovereign territory of the Receiving Party (Cyprus). The same will apply to the development of warships, aircraft and ground vehicles, which are used by or on behalf of the forces of the Sending Party. This includes in particular the right to sail in territorial waters and use the airspace of the Receiving Party, as well as the right to use designated ports, airports, public roads and other facilities, as provided by the Receiving Party.
>> Weapons and ammunition will remain on aircraft and vessels.
>> The personnel of the Sending Party (France) may possess and carry weapons on the territory of the Receiving Party only upon a written request and a written affirmative response from the Receiving Party, provided that they are authorized to do so by the applicable national laws and regulations of the Sending Party.
>> The personnel of the Sending Party shall have the right to install and operate wireless transmitter and receiver stations (including satellite systems), as well as telephone, telegraph and fax systems or any other equipment necessary to facilitate communications between it and the telecommunications network of the Sending Party, in the sovereign territory of the Receiving Party, provided that the Sending Party ensures the required authorization for the use of radio frequencies (wireless stations) by the Receiving Party, in accordance with its applicable national legislation and regulations. Once the authorization has been granted, the use of radio frequencies by the Sending Party will be free of charge.
>> Exchange and mutual protection of classified information.
>> Cooperation shall be applied during evacuation operations in the context of a crisis situation from the Middle East region through the territory of the Republic of Cyprus.
>> "Evacuated" includes any citizens of the European Union and their dependents, as well as any third-country national, who has been evacuated from the Sending Party (France), from the territory of a third country in the context of an Evacuation Operation.
>> The Receiving Party (i.e. Cyprus) provides facilities in its territory, up to the point of reception of the evacuated personnel, personnel, means of transport and equipment of the Sending Party (France).
>> The Agreement shall be activated upon a formal request by the Sending Party (France) by verbal notice, at least 48 hours prior to the scheduled commencement of the Evacuation Operation.
>> The Sending Party shall ensure that all Evacuees depart from the territory of the Receiving Party, using all available means, within 48 hours of their arrival in the territory of the Receiving Party, except in exceptional circumstances requiring more time, upon written request of the Sending Party and a written positive response from the Receiving Party.
>> – The Sending Party shall have the right to exercise exclusive jurisdiction over its personnel, with respect to offences, including offences related to its security, punishable by the laws of the Sending Party, but not by the laws of the Receiving Party.
What Cyprus provides for free in France
The Receiving Party shall provide the Sending Party free of charge with the following: Public infrastructure and public spaces necessary for the accommodation of the Sending Party's personnel and evacuated personnel, as well as the necessary utilities for such infrastructure (water supply, sanitation, facilities, electricity, means of communication). At the same time, it will provide storage space for materials and ammunition of the Sending Party.
Support, Supplies & Services to USA
Regarding the agreement with the United States, which the Government of the Republic of Cyprus signed on July 26, 2022, it generally concerns the "Exchange of Services and Support in Logistics Matters". It provides for the provision of logistical support, the provision of supplies and services (including port services) up to spare parts and so on. More specifically, the agreement between Cyprus and the USA approved by the Council of Ministers on 15/11/2022 (a few months after its signing), provides for the following:
Provision of food, water, accommodation, transportation (including air transport), oil, oils, lubricants, clothing, communication services, medical services, base business support (and construction work related to base work support), storage services, facility use, training services, spare parts and components. It also covers repair and maintenance services, calibration services, as well as port services.
According to the relevant documents, Cyprus' logistical support to the United States is provided "primarily during combined exercises, training, missions, docking, operations or other cooperation efforts, or for unforeseen circumstances or requirements in which one of the parties may be in need of logistics, supplies, and services." It should be noted that the Cyprus-US agreement remains in force indefinitely, unless it is terminated.
