A new bill introduced in the United States House of Representatives by members of the Congressional Hellenic Caucus calls for the permanent removal of the arms embargo on Cyprus.
While the US has already lifted the embargo, it must be renewed annually, creating uncertainty and hindering long-term defence planning for the island.
The US initially imposed the embargo in 1987 to prevent an arms race between Cyprus and Turkey and encourage a peaceful resolution to the island’s divisions.
However, under the provisions of the 2019 Eastern Mediterranean Security and Energy Partnership Act, the embargo was partially lifted, allowing for defence equipment transfers to Cyprus, contingent upon annual certification by the US president.
The new bill aims to eliminate the annual renewal process and permanently lift the restrictions on the export of US arms and military assistance to Cyprus. It proposes an amendment to Section 1250A of the National Defence Authorisation Act (NDAA) for fiscal year 2020.
Cyprus has met the conditions outlined in 2019, including efforts to combat money laundering and prevent Russian military vessels from accessing its ports. Given Cyprus’ strengthened regional role and evolving geopolitical dynamics, the bill argues that the arms embargo and its associated waivers are now outdated and no longer align with US interests.
In related news, four Greek American US Representatives—Nicole Malliotakis, Gus Bilirakis, Chris Pappas, and Dina Titus—have introduced a bipartisan resolution urging President-elect Trump to prioritise a Cyprus solution. The resolution condemns Turkey’s ongoing occupation of the island and calls for US leadership in seeking a resolution to the conflict.
