His one-day visit Nikos Dendias in Nicosia he had a double message. First, Cyprus and Greece are moving in concert to make use of the European Regulation SAFE in joint supplies and investments.
Secondly, the cooperation rises to a higher level with an emphasis on the promotion and coupling of the defense industries of the two countries, in view of the Cypriot Presidency of the Council of the EU from January 1, 2026. The program of the visit included a meeting of the Minister of National Defense with his counterpart Basil Palma and then to the Presidential Palace with the President Nikos Christodoulidis.
Coordination for SAFE
At the Ministry of Defense in Nicosia, the two ministers underlined that SAFE offers a practical framework for joint actions that enhance deterrence and operational readiness. THE Nikos Dendias talked about “tight schedule” and opportunity to deepen bilateral cooperation, while the Vasilis Palmas described SAFE as a tool to upgrade the defense capability of the Republic of Cyprus.
Emphasis on domestic industry
At the Presidential Palace, President Christodoulidis clearly set as a priority the promotion and interconnection of the Greek and Cypriot defense industry through EU tools, with the upcoming Cypriot Presidency acting as an accelerator. THE Nikos Dendias focused on creating a strong “ecosystem” of defense technologies and co-productions.
The Regulation SAFE (Security Action for Europe) gives member states access to up to €150 billion in long-term, low-interest loans for major procurement and investments that strengthen the European defense base. European preference in production is promoted and national investment plans are submitted which are evaluated by the Commission.
The open question of Turkey
The position that the mechanism cannot end up benefiting states that threaten members of the Union was reiterated in the public statements. The discussion on possible schemes with third countries is accompanied by strict clauses and political dilemmas, with Athens and Nicosia referring to the need for a common stance of the 27.
Responding to a question as to whether actions are being taken to veto other EU member states on Turkey’s possible inclusion in the SAFE program, the N. Dendias he said that “Me and Vassilis are perhaps one of the few people in Europe who have sat down and read the SAFE Regulation. An extremely complex Regulation, written in a strange language of the Brussels bureaucracy, precisely so that everyone can understand what they think and formulate what they judge”.
In this context, however, he mentioned that there are value principles, which must be clear. “There is a clear commitment from the European Commission on how contracts between the EU and third countries will be brought up for discussion,” he pointed out. As he said, the European Commission itself, with its statement, has committed that these proposals will come to be voted on unanimously, with a common understanding of all states. “This is self-evident, because if someone threatens the EU itself, it is obvious that they cannot participate in the mechanism to deal with this aggression,” he said.
In this context, he continued, “we expect all European countries to stand up against the self-evident concept of protecting the European space, but not only geographically, European values, democracy, the European approach to the protection of human rights”.
Nicosia “is running» the finalization of the national file for the SAFEwith a list of projects that will be judged on the axis of critical competencies and industrial added value. The Defense Industry Council will meet again to lock down priorities before the start of the Cypriot Presidency.
Cyprus Defense Minister: New defense projects in critical technologies by 2026
Cyprus is picking up speed in defense innovation. The Cypriot Minister of Defense Vasilis Palmas announced that within 2026, new projects will be presented with an emphasis on critical technological areas, aiming at domestic know-how and technological independence. “We want a single, functional defense innovation ecosystem,” he noted, describing a partnership of science, industry and the National Guard.
“ATHENA”, “THISEAS”, “DroneEyE”
Today at the “Stavros Stylianidis” Camp outside Nicosia, the first three projects of the Research and Innovation Action were presented “ATHENA”, “THISEAS” and “DroneEyE». V. Palmas characterized them as tangible examples of how domestic research turns into a multiplier of power and deterrence, envisioning a continuation in 2026.
The planning of the Ministry of Defense of Cyprus gives priority to research, development and innovation with an active role of universities, Centers of Excellence, private companies and research institutions. Strengthening the domestic defense industry is projected as a pillar of the strategy, with a double benefit: operational armor and a boost to the economy.
The new threat environment
V. Palmas described a fluid landscape with hybrid threats, rapid development of unmanned systems and artificial intelligence, which require a network-centric defense concept and high technological readiness. Cyprus, as a member state of the EU and a factor of stability in the Eastern Mediterranean, “it cannot remain uninvolved in this transition.”
The message of the technological upgrade is directly linked to the newer Nicosia-Athens connections. At the Christodoulidis-Dendias meeting at the Presidential Office, the President spoke about “golden opportunity” highlighting the Cypriot and Greek defense industry against the backdrop of the upcoming Cypriot Presidency of the EU and the European SAFE program.
On a similar wavelength, Defense Ministers Palmas and Dendias pointed out that Cyprus-Greece cooperation in the framework of SAFE is “self-evident”, with the aim of synergies that upgrade defense capabilities and serve the deterrent power. Mr. Dendias also underlined that for any contracts with third countries, the Commission’s commitment to unanimity procedures applies, a crucial element for the protection of European values and security.
With a horizon of 2026, the Ministry of Defense of Cyprus is preparing a new wave of projects and collaborations that link academic research with real operational needs. The choice to cultivate domestic know-how and support industry gives Cyprus a role as a producer of solutions, not just a buyer. If political will and funding keep pace, “ATHENA” can develop into a permanent innovation production line for the National Guard.
Tashkent, September 1955: Communists vs. Communists (Part I)
Manolis Kalatzis