"With the new capabilities we are building within the Armed Forces, we will always stand by your side as brothers," said Greece’s Minister of National Defense, Mr. Nikos Dendias, today, after being received this morning by the President of the Republic, Mr. Nicos Christodoulides, at the Presidential Palace.
Welcoming the Greek Minister of National Defense, who is in Cyprus to mark the anniversary of the Republic of Cyprus’s independence, the President of the Republic said, “My friend Nicos, I would like to welcome you once again to Cyprus. I want to begin by saying something I feel very strongly. You are always with us, and that is particularly important to us. Know that the Cypriot people do not forget those who stand by them through their actions.
ΣΧΕΤΙΚΑ ΑΡΘΡΑ
I would like to thank you warmly—and, through you, the Greek Government—for participating in today’s parade, which we will attend shortly, to thank you for the F-16s that will take part in the parade, and to thank you for the fact that this is also the first time that Greek forces in Cyprus will participate in the parade with motorized vehicles. And, of course, Greece’s participation is always important to us. Our relations are fraternal.
But the participation of forces from third countries—the United States, France, Egypt, and Great Britain, is a sign—following the presence of third countries in Cyprus when it was needed after the incident in March at the British Bases—and of our own strategy to strengthen all of our country’s sources of power, both internal and external.
SEE ALSO: “Our Most Important Achievement”: The Presidency’s Message on the 66th Anniversary of the Founding of the Republic of Cyprus
And, of course, within the framework of this strategy, enhancing the deterrent capability of the Republic of Cyprus is a top priority. This is, of course, due to the ongoing occupation, but also to the geographical location of the Republic of Cyprus, a member state of the European Union, in a region of particular geopolitical significance. We are modernizing our defense forces; we are modernizing and upgrading our infrastructure—our naval and air force infrastructure—and we are making full use of the European Union’s very important tool, SAFE.
And we will continue to do so.
The largest increase in the government’s 2027 budget is for the Ministry of Defense and military equipment, said the President of the Republic @PresidentCYP @Christodulides today, as he welcomed Greece’s Minister of National Defense @NikosDendias to the Presidential Palace… pic.twitter.com/DeJko2Wi1F
— Presidency of the Republic of Cyprus (@CYpresidency) October 1, 2026
You also mentioned the members of the Cabinet earlier (at the memorial service at the Prisoners’ Graves) and referred to the Ministry of Finance. In 2027, the largest increase in our government’s budget concerns the Ministry of Defense, specifically for military equipment; and, of course, for us, the upgrading and strengthening of the Republic of Cyprus’s deterrent power always depends first and foremost on the personnel of the National Guard, our human resources. And, of course, we are constantly investing in the human resources of the National Guard.
Once again, I would like to welcome you and thank you for always being with us; we, the Cypriot people, never forget those who always stand by our side.”
For his part, Mr. Dendias said, “I thank you most warmly for your consistently gracious welcome—to you and to my colleague Vasilis Palmas. Your love is evident, and I feel it, as do the Chief of the Hellenic National Defense General Staff and, I must say, the Hellenic Armed Forces.
First of all, I would like to convey to you the congratulations and warmest greetings of the Greek Government, from the Greek Prime Minister, as well as from the entire Greek people, who have always stood by the Greek Cypriots throughout history and today, on the day of Cypriot Independence, are celebrating with you.
READ ALSO: How the Republic of Cyprus Was “Born”
I would like to assure you that we, too—with the new capabilities we are developing within the Armed Forces—will always stand by your side as brothers, but also as part of our shared European family.
Once again, I would like to thank you for your warm and loving welcome—not only for the well-known Cypriot hospitality, and your warm welcome, and to convey to all Cypriots my best wishes for good health and a long life for the Republic of Cyprus under your presidency, as well as for the time-honored Hellenic belief that we must support our brother nation, Cyprus.”
