in-cyprus 11 January 2026 - by Andreas Bimbishis
The United States is funding infrastructure upgrades and expanding military training opportunities for Cyprus, according to a US government memorandum whose content was shared with Fileleftheros.
The US Air Force in Europe has funded an assessment of the Andreas Papandreou Air Base in Paphos, aiming to develop long-term expansion plans that will serve the Cypriot Air Force whilst enabling operations by EU and NATO partners. American specialists based in Frankfurt have already visited Cyprus twice to conduct site inspections and develop plans in cooperation with Cypriot authorities.
Separately, the Naval Facilities Engineering Systems Command has funded construction of a multi-purpose facility at the Larnaca Emergency Response Centre and a helipad at the Evangelos Florakis Naval Base in Mari. The facilities, valued at millions of dollars once completed, will remain under Cypriot operational control.
The investments will support non-combatant evacuation operations, regional crisis response, and other US activities that can assist Cyprus in implementing its “Estia” programme and other national plans, according to the US memorandum.
Cyprus will gain expanded access to elite US military academies this year. For 2026, Cyprus is entitled to submit candidates to three US service academies—West Point Military Academy, the Naval Academy at Annapolis, and the Air Force Academy. Last year, Cyprus only had access to the Naval Academy.
The US side notes that admission to these institutions is highly competitive, but describes Cypriot candidates as very strong with good prospects for acceptance.
A delegation from the Defense Security Cooperation Agency will visit Cyprus in January to brief Cypriot authorities on Foreign Military Sales and Excess Defense Articles programmes. Cyprus and the US are in advanced discussions about opportunities under the Foreign Military Sales programme, including the acquisition of military transport trucks through the Excess Defense Articles scheme at reduced cost.
Plans are already prepared for expanding the Papandreou Air Base and acquiring Search and Rescue Operations software to enhance the Joint Rescue Coordination Centre’s search and rescue capabilities.
The International Military Education and Training programme continues with approximately 30 Cypriot students annually attending military training at US facilities. Training costs are shared between the US and Cyprus.
The New Jersey National Guard and Cyprus National Guard maintain cooperation across multiple areas, including explosive ordnance disposal, combat medical training, military intelligence, and cyber defence.
Following US support during last summer’s wildfires in Cyprus, the New Jersey Office of Emergency Management, New Jersey Forest Fire Service, and New Jersey National Guard are now working with the Cyprus National Guard and the Ministry of Defence’s Central Civil Defence Planning Service to exchange best practices in aerial firefighting and joint civil-military operations.
The current state of US-Cyprus defence cooperation began taking shape in 2024. Foreign Minister Constantinos Kombos met with Secretary of State Antony Blinken to establish a Strategic Dialogue between the two countries. The first official Strategic Dialogue took place in Nicosia in October 2024.
In October 2024, President Nikos Christodoulides met with President Joe Biden at the White House, initiating plans to upgrade military facilities in Paphos and Mari and to replace Russian armaments.
Last November, Kombos returned to Washington to meet with Secretary of State Marco Rubio, confirming the continuity and stability of bilateral relations regardless of political changes in Washington.
