Defence Minister Nikos Dendias has described the EU‘s approach in the past of imposing very tight budgetary limits on defence spending as “schizophrenic“. He noted that defensive autonomy, which we all want, cannot be achieved within this narrow framework and hoped that the EU “has returned to the rule of reason.”

During his meeting with Cypriot President Nikos Christodoulides in Nicosia, Nikos Dendias also noted that he subscribed to what he has argued about Europe’s need to be able to defend its own space, noting that “to reassure our transatlantic friends, I say that this is not something inconsistent with our own obligations in the North Atlantic Treaty, but perfectly compatible and useful“.

The Defence Minister was received by the President of Cyprus who referred to the serious decisions taken at the informal European Council, in relation to the need to strengthen the defence and security of the EU.

He said that these decisions will be formalised in the context of the next European Council in relation to the need for the EU to take responsibility for the defence of Member States – it is the sole responsibility of the EU to do so – but also in the context of achieving the objective of strategic autonomy, achieving the objective of strengthening the geostrategic role of the EU.

Christodoulides noted that Cyprus and Greece co-signed the letter to the European Investment Bank on the issue of defence spending. He also referred to the expansion of the Air Base ‘Andreas Papandreou’, and the upgrading of the Naval Base ‘Evangelos Florakis’, but some other arms issues would be an aspect of the discussions with Mr. Dendias.

“And in this effort,” said Nikos Chrostodoulides, “we look forward to your help, as always, so that we achieve our goal, which is clear: the strengthening of the deterrent power of the Republic of Cyprus. Not only because there has been an occupation in this place for more than 50 years, but also taking into account the developments in our region which you know very well from your previous positions. We started together several efforts at that time in relation to strengthening regional cooperation which we see today that they involved very good initiatives that were taken, so that today we are in a position to face all these challenges.“