Cyprus is raising
the bar for its defense ambitions with plans for a radical upgrade of the Mari naval base. A report by the specialized defense organization Jane’s states that the Ministry of Defense has commissioned two Greek engineering firms to conduct a one-year study on the expansion of the base.
“The primary objective is to create sufficient berthing spaces for more than eight large-displacement warships and support vessels from allied naval forces. The expansion will focus on port and maritime infrastructure, while there are currently no plans to increase the base’s land area.”
Nikolaos Loukas – Captain, Hellenic Navy
ΣΧΕΤΙΚΑ ΑΡΘΡΑ
This move strengthens Cyprus’s role as a hub for military and operational support in the Eastern Mediterranean, expanding its capacity to support European and other allied forces.
“The study will determine the final number of berths, the dimensions of the ships that can be accommodated, and the required technical specifications.”
Nikolaos Loukas
The upgrade is part of a broader effort to strengthen the Republic of Cyprus’s defense infrastructure, alongside the modernization of the “Andreas Papandreou” Air Base in Paphos with U.S. assistance.
According to the report, plans are also underway in Mari, with U.S. funding, to build a heliport capable of supporting large transport helicopters for operations to evacuate civilians from crisis areas.
At this stage, of course, the project remains in the planning phase, with the technical specifications and construction timeline yet to be finalized.
Watch Eleni Michael’s report:
