Palmas says two Greek F-16 jets and a warship are permanently in Southern Cyprus

Greek Cypriot Defence Minister Vasilis Palmas announced that two Greek F-16 aircraft and a warship stationed in Southern Cyprus are now permanently on the island. Fileleftheros and other newspapers reported that Palmas attended a ceremony in Thessaloniki marking Greece's Ohi Day and met Greek Defence Minister Nikos Dendias.

According to the report, the Palmas-Dendias meeting covered international security developments and defence cooperation between the two countries. In a statement to Defence ReDefined, Palmas said Greek F-16 jets and a warship are now permanently based on the island, calling this the most concrete evidence of growing military cooperation with Greece. He also stressed that the RMMO ceremonial regiment took part in Ohi Day events in Greece.

Palmas also addressed Southern Cyprus's armament programme and cooperation with Israel. He said the two sides signed an offshore vessel purchase agreement with Israel just two days earlier, and that other Israeli-origin armament programmes are on the agenda to meet RMMO needs.