The United States views the Republic of Cyprus (ROC) as an important partner for regional stability, security, and prosperity, and works closely with the ROC to advance shared security priorities in the Eastern Mediterranean region.
Cooperation between the United States and the ROC is at a historic high. In late 2018 the United States and the ROC signed a Statement of Intent on bilateral security cooperation. In December 2019, the Eastern Mediterranean Security and Energy Partnership Act of 2019 was signed into law with strong bipartisan support, highlighting the United States’ security interests in the Eastern Mediterranean region. Since then, our security partnership has continued to deepen in the areas of counterterrorism, nonproliferation, maritime security, search and rescue, counter-trafficking, cybersecurity, disaster and emergency response, and non-combatant evacuation. Examples of concrete successes include:
- First-time ROC participation in the U.S. International Military Education Training Program (IMET);
- ROC support for a deployment of U.S. troops in 2020;
- Groundbreaking for the $5-million Cyprus Center for Land, Open-sea, and Port Security (CYCLOPS) regional training center focused on border security and preventing the spread of weapons of mass destruction;
- Accreditation of the ROC’s first Defense Attaché at its embassy in Washington;
- Joint military exercises and port visits by U.S. naval vessels to Cyprus;
- Joint training to improve maritime security and cybersecurity;
- Temporarily waiving International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) restrictions to allow for the direct commercial sale of non-lethal defense articles and services to and from the ROC; and
- Senior-level visits to the ROC by U.S. military leadership.
Our bilateral partnership also continues to grow in other areas of common interest, such as countering illicit financial flows, diversifying European energy sources, fostering opportunities for greater trade and investment, and protecting cultural heritage.
For further information, please contact the Bureau of Political-Military Affairs, Office of Congressional and Public Affairs at PM-CPA@state.gov, and follow the Bureau of Political-Military Affairs on Twitter, @StateDeptPM.