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Cyprus could apply to become a member of NATO once its armed forces receive the necessary training and equipment with US help to bring them up to the standards of the world\u2019s premier military alliance, the president of the Mediterranean island nation said Thursday.<\/p>\n
President Nikos Christodoulides put Cyprus on a trajectory for possible NATO membership, ending weeks of media speculation about his government\u2019s intentions following his meeting with US President Joe Biden in Washington last month. The development goes against Cyprus\u2019 long-held policy of neutrality harking back to the Cold War era, when it walked a political tightrope between Washington and Moscow.<\/p>\n
Christodoulides said although Cyprus can\u2019t join NATO at this time because of objections that Turkey would raise to its potential membership, the Cypriot National Guard shouldn\u2019t be denied the opportunity to upgrade its defensive capabilities with US assistance.<\/p>\n
Turkey, which maintains more than 35,000 troops in the Turkish-occupied northern of ethnically divided Cyprus, doesn\u2019t recognize the Republic of Cyprus.<\/p>\n
Christodoulides didn\u2019t elaborate on how Turkish objections could be sidestepped. But the UN is currently working to prepare for a resumption of peace talks between the rival sides in Cyprus, which was split in 1974 when Turkey invaded following a coup by supporters of uniting the island with Greece.<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd because we don\u2019t want the National Guard to lose such opportunities, we\u2019re in talks with the US \u2013 and we thank them for their positive response \u2013 on how the Cyprus Republic can make the best use of these opportunities, so when everything is in its place, the Cyprus Republic can become a member state of NATO,\u201d Christodoulides told The Associated Press.
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\u201cThe strengthening of the Cyprus Republic\u2019s deterrent capabilities is of the utmost importance, and we take advantage of every opportunity, both in the direction of the United States and NATO, but also the European Union.\u201d
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Christodoulides said Cyprus\u2019 geographic location \u2013 it\u2019s the closest EU member-state to the Middle East at just 182 kilometers (114 miles) from the Lebanese capital, Beirut \u2013 has given impetus to planned upgrades to its military infrastructure. He said the government is currently in talks with the US for upgrades to a key air base and with the EU for a naval base.<\/p>\n
Following his meeting with Biden, Christodoulides told the AP of his government\u2019s commitment to expanding defense and security cooperation with the US.<\/p>\n
Cyprus\u2019 Andreas Papandreou air base on its southwestern edge is currently hosting a US Marine contingent and a number of V-22 Osprey tiltrotor military transport and cargo aircraft prepositioned to assist in potential evacuations from nearby Lebanon and elsewhere. [AP]<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n