FAMAGUSTA GAZETTE – American defense experts have visited the Andreas Papandreou Air Base in Paphos twice in recent months as part of plans to upgrade the facility.
The project, coordinated with Cypriot authorities, includes expanding the runway, building a large hangar, and establishing a modern communications center.
The base will remain under Cypriot control, with any foreign use subject to government approval.
Parallel efforts are underway to upgrade the naval base in Mari. Construction is expected to begin in 2026, with the total cost estimated at €220 million.
The European Union has expressed interest in financing the project, and France has shown long-standing interest in using the facility.
Officials say both upgrades are part of Cyprus’s broader defense strategy, shaped by regional geopolitical developments.
The government has identified four priorities: modernizing the air and naval bases, developing a domestic defense industry, and joining the EU’s SAFE (Security Action for Europe) initiative.
A formal application to join SAFE is scheduled for November.
Authorities emphasize that the upgraded bases will support humanitarian missions and civilian evacuations, while strengthening Cyprus’s deterrence capabilities in the Eastern Mediterranean.