“The future is very bright,” the new US Ambassador to Nicosia, John Breslow, told the Cyprus News Agency (CNA), referring to defence and military cooperation between the United States and Cyprus.
In his first interview since taking office in September, speaking aboard the USS Roosevelt during its visit to Limassol port, Breslow discussed the growing defence and military relationship between the two countries. The visit came after a US contingent participated for the first time in Cyprus’ annual October 1 military parade.
Asked what has been achieved since the signing of the 2024–2029 bilateral defence cooperation roadmap, the Ambassador said “the roadmap has already begun and is progressing very well”.
He noted that the roadmap runs for five years and will conclude near the end of US President Donald Trump’s term.
“One thing I would certainly like to do before he leaves office, because he appointed me, is call him and tell him that this [roadmap] needs to be renewed,” Breslow said.
Among the initiatives undertaken so far, the Ambassador referred to plans to expand facilities at Paphos airport and the CYCLOPS programme, which he described as “a wonderful programme”.
CYCLOPS is a US-funded training centre in Cyprus where training has been provided in areas including cybersecurity and border security, largely with the assistance of the New Jersey National Guard.
“Many people have benefited, and it is a wonderful, wonderful programme,” he said.
Returning to the possibility of renewing the defence roadmap, Breslow said it was “somewhat early” to discuss the issue, as the two countries are currently midway through its implementation.
However, he said it should eventually be renewed because it is breaking new ground for Cyprus and the United States.
More US warships and joint exercises
Asked whether the USS Roosevelt’s visit to Limassol signals a new era of US naval visits to Cyprus and whether joint exercises are being planned to strengthen regional security, Breslow said he believed there were plans for “many different military operations here in Cyprus, defence operations”.
“And the future is very bright,” he said, while noting that he could not provide details about some of those activities.
“I think you will see more warships and ships visiting the port like this one. And there will be some joint exercises, such as those under CYCLOPS. So, we want to continue,” he added.
‘The US will protect Cyprus in the future’
Asked about Washington’s position on the possibility of Cyprus joining NATO and whether the US would support a Cypriot application to the Partnership for Peace (PfP), Breslow said the question of NATO membership must begin with the people of Cyprus.
“I think they have to decide that this is something they want to do,” he said.
“And I think the capabilities that the US and Cyprus are creating together are almost like NATO. I mean, the US will protect Cyprus in the future. And I think that is very important,” Breslow said.
He added that he could not predict what would happen in the future, but said he believed the United States would be “very, very supportive”.
Arms restrictions
Asked about the US Government’s position on permanently lifting arms restrictions on Cyprus, which are currently reviewed annually, Breslow said he could not speak for the administration’s official position.
However, he said there was growing momentum in the US Senate to extend the timeframe under the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR).
“They have talked about three years, five years,” he said, adding that Senator Cory Booker had shown interest in the issue and that some of his staff had recently visited Cyprus and discussed it.
Breslow stressed that such a decision was not his to make.
“Obviously, I don’t make policy. That is something Congress and the President do,” he said, adding that he nevertheless believed there was momentum towards an extension.
‘We have fallen in love with Cyprus’
Asked about his impressions of Cyprus, Breslow noted that he had been on the island for only a month and had never visited before taking up his post.
“I love Cyprus. My wife Sonia and I have fallen in love with it,” he said.
He added that during their first tour of the island, his wife told him: “I love this place. When you finish your term as Ambassador, I would like us to live here.”
As he begins his term as US Ambassador to Cyprus, Breslow said he was excited to serve and already expected that leaving the island would be difficult.
“The people I have met are so kind and wonderful. Something that has surprised me is that everyone is smiling and they like what they do,” he concluded.
Source: CNA
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