President Nikos Christodoulides announced on Thursday his vision of transforming Cyprus from a consumer of defence products to a producer.

“I am announcing a series of targeted measures to further support and strengthen, in action not just words, our defence industry,” he said.

Addressing the opening of the 2nd international defence and security conference ‘Battlefield ReDEFiNED 2024’ in Nicosia, Christodoulides announced the preparation of legislation to institutionalise the high-tech defence industry aiming to strengthen national defence and stimulate economic growth.

He also announced the institutionalisation of industrial collaboration defence programmes, the establishment of the defence research, technology and industry council, the establishment of the national registry of defence industry manufacturers in collaboration with the Cyprus chamber of commerce and industry, the increase of funding defence research and development, and government funding for national pavilions at international exhibitions.

“The aim is to transform our defence industry, positioning Cyprus as a hub for advanced defence technologies and to empower our country to provide a meaningful and valuable contribution to Europe’s collective security framework,” he said.

“At the same time, this sector will also generate significant economic benefits, reinforcing our national resilience and creating opportunities for growth in other sectors.”

The president said that the ongoing war in Ukraine, along with regional conflicts in the greater Middle East, underscored the inherent fragility of peace and the critical importance of preparedness.

“It serves as a reminder that vigilance and the advancement of defence capabilities are indispensable for the preservation of peace and stability.”

He added that Cyprus having been invaded by Turkey in 1974, its EU membership and the fact that it is located in a region of “great geopolitical importance and uncertainty”, makes investment in defence “not just a duty but a strategic imperative”.

Christodoulides said that over the last five years, the Cyprus defence industry had demonstrated extraordinary growth and resilience.

He added that 16 Cypriot companies, with the support of the defence ministry, have secured participation in 37 different contracts of the European defence industrial development programme as well as of the European Defence Fund, which allocated contracts with a total budget of approximately €435 million for developing new generation European defence systems.

“This involvement has equipped our defence industry with advanced infrastructure and specialised expertise, establishing Cyprus as a reliable co-producer in Europe’s defence systems supply chain,” he added.

In later statements to the press, Christodoulides said the government was doing its best to enhance Cyprus’ deterrent capacity, adding that the defence industry held great prospects for the country, not only in defence, but also the economy and highly paid jobs for scientists.

Referring to the announcements he made at the conference, Christodoulides said things were already in motion, such as an agreement with France for the purchase of equipment for Cyprus with the participation of Cypriot companies.

Asked about press reports that Cyprus and the US were strengthening their defence cooperation, Christodoulides said he was awaiting official confirmation from the Congress and that relations were being enhanced with European countries as well and in the framework of next week’s strategic dialogue with the UK.

Christodoulides added that more announcements would be made possibly before the end of the year regarding cooperation with the US.

He also said naval and air bases in Cyprus would be upgraded and that he was in contact with the EU over the Evangelos Florakis naval base and with the US over the Andreas Papandreou air base.

The conference, held on December 12 and 13, is organised through non-profit Cyprus Association of Research and Innovation Enterprises (CARIE), in collaboration with the Cyprus Defence Industry Cluster, specialised defence and security marketing agency CD Multimedia Services and other leading companies in the sector.

The conference, one of the largest of its kind, is held under the auspices of the Cyprus chamber of commerce and industry and the defence ministry, is supported by Cypriot and foreign organisations, including the research and innovation foundation and defence equipment manufacturers of Greece.

Over 20 companies and organisations, local and international, will present a range of defence systems, many of which will be showcased in Cyprus for the first time.