Cyprus: From ties with Russia to a strategic alignment with the US

The Republic of Cyprus long balanced ties between Russia and the West. Now, it is phasing out Russian weapons, expanding defense cooperation with the United States and redefining its place in the Eastern Mediterranean.

In an interview with the Cyprus News Agency on October 4, the new US ambassador to Cyprus , John Breslow, outlined plans to upgrade the Andreas Papandreou Air Base in Paphos to accommodate large US military transport aircraft. He also announced plans for more frequent visits by US warships to Cypriot ports and an expansion of joint military activities.

But one statement carried particular political weight: his assurance that "the United States will protect Cyprus in the future." Although the remark does not constitute a formal US security guarantee, it reflects the growing cooperation between the two countries. For a country that for decades maintained close ties with Moscow, viewed US foreign policy with suspicion and is not a member of NATO , the prospect of an expanded American military presence marks a significant geopolitical shift.