US Military Assessment Team Arrives in Cyprus for Defense Upgrades

A U.S. military assessment team is visiting Cyprus this week to evaluate upgrades at the Andreas Papandreou Air Force Base, aimed at enhancing the island's defense capabilities and interoperability with U.S. forces. The team will focus on infrastructure improvements, including airport operations, logistics, and communications, in response to Cyprus' strategic location near the Middle East and its role in humanitarian aid operations. This initiative follows the recent deployment of a U.S. Marine contingent at the base and the Biden administration's approval for Cyprus to procure arms from the U.S. government. The upgrades are seen as essential for facilitating large-scale evacuation operations during regional conflicts. The strengthening of Cyprus-U.S. ties has sparked criticism from Turkey, which has historically opposed such cooperation. Overall, the enhancements reflect Cyprus' commitment to a pro-Western defense strategy under President Nikos Christodoulides.