The United States increasingly sees Cyprus as a reliable partner at a crossroads between Europe, the Middle East, and North Africa. Two recent developments underscore this: plans to upgrade the Andreas Papandreou Air Force Base in Paphos with American technical and financial support, and the arrival of American fire investigators to assist Cypriot authorities after wildfires. They mark a further step in bilateral cooperation since the United States lifted its arms embargo on Cyprus in 2020. That decision removed a long-standing restriction, opened the way for direct military sales, and signaled a new phase in the relationship.
In September 2024, the two governments signed a bilateral defense cooperation roadmap that laid the basis for deeper engagement and planning. The document created a structure for projects, training, and information exchange, and set clear channels to move work from intention to execution.
Beyond defense, cooperation now covers law enforcement and civil protection.
American involvement now takes a practical form at the Andreas Papandreou Base. Plans include extending the runway to handle a wider range of aircraft, building a large hangar, and creating a modern communications center. Cypriot authorities are preparing adjacent land and a second access road to strengthen resilience in emergencies. Specialists from the United States visited twice to conduct on-site assessments and shape plans with Cypriot officials. Washington signaled readiness to contribute technical expertise and financial support. Nicosia underlined that the facility remains under Cypriot ownership and control, and that any American use will require prior authorization by the republic—a framework the United States accepted.
Beyond defense, cooperation now covers law enforcement and civil protection. The Biden administration placed a Federal Bureau of Investigation liaison team in Cyprus to improve Russia sanctions enforcement and financial crime investigations. This tied Cypriot authorities to American efforts to track illicit funds connected to Russia’s war in Ukraine and to terror finance networks in the Middle East. Officers on both sides now coordinate cases that touch banks, service providers, and shipping companies, and share information in support of prosecutions.
Cooperation in civil protection has moved into action. After wildfires in Limassol, the United States sent ten fire investigators to assist local authorities. The U.S. Embassy praised the mission as partners supporting each other in a time of crisis. Cypriot agencies used the findings to refine procedures and prevention before the next fire season.
The launch of the bilateral strategic dialogue in 2024 framed these initiatives and established high-level contacts on security, law enforcement, humanitarian coordination, and related fields. The October 2024 visit of Cypriot President Nikos Christodoulides to the White House confirmed the political will and created a channel to solve practical problems as they arise.
The October 2024 visit of Cypriot President Nikos Christodoulides to the White House confirmed the political will and created a channel to solve practical problems.
Cyprus has also deepened cooperation with states such as Israel and Egypt. Regular trilateral meetings and joint projects link energy development, maritime security, and rescue planning. Participation in the Eastern Mediterranean Gas Forum supports work on pipelines, liquefied natural gas infrastructure, and offshore fields. These arrangements give Cyprus channels to align with partners on emergency response, maritime domain awareness, and the movement of humanitarian aid by sea. For Cyprus, the cooperation consolidates a shift into broader security structures, expands ties, and improves capacity.
For Washington, the value of this partnership lies in geography and reliability. Ports and airfields sit near regional crises within a stable legal framework, which allows rapid movement without improvised arrangements, all while reducing Moscow’s influence in the neighborhood. As the Andreas Papandreou base upgrade advances, both sides will test procedures for access, authorization, and cost sharing. In parallel, training, exercises, and financial and law enforcement cooperation can deepen practical ties that last beyond political cycles. For both sides, moving the partnership from the aspirational to the real has become a win-win, already paying dividends.
