A bipartisan group of US lawmakers - Representatives Chris Pappas, Gus Bilirakis, Dina Titus and Nicole Malliotakis - reintroduced legislation that would extend the waiver period for the US arms embargo on Cyprus from one year to five, a move they say will strengthen defense ties and regional stability in the Eastern Mediterranean, in a move that underscores the deepening ties between the United States and the Republic of Cyprus.
HDN Newsroom
The End the Cyprus Embargo Act, reintroduced by Representatives Chris Pappas (D-NH), Gus Bilirakis (R-FL), Dina Titus (D-NV), and Nicole Malliotakis (R-NY), aims to streamline defense cooperation by allowing longer-term planning and procurement of US defense articles by Cyprus.
Under current law, the US president is authorized to waive the embargo annually under the 2019 Eastern Mediterranean Security and Energy Partnership Act. However, lawmakers say the yearly review hinders strategic planning, undermines military interoperability, and limits joint initiatives in areas such as cybersecurity and maritime security.
“The Republic of Cyprus is a steadfast democratic ally in the Eastern Mediterranean and an essential partner in ensuring regional security,” said Pappas in a statement. “This policy change will… improve long-term planning and procurement coordination.”
Bilirakis added that Cyprus has proven to be a “valued and reliable partner,” and that extending the waiver period would give the island nation more certainty in its defense planning.
Titus and Malliotakis echoed the need to modernize the policy, with Malliotakis calling the current embargo “outdated and counterproductive.”
The bill would allow the president to revisit the embargo waiver every five years, rather than annually, and would bar termination of the waiver unless the president certifies to Congress that Cyprus is no longer cooperating with US anti-money laundering efforts or is permitting Russian military vessels to refuel at Cypriot ports.
The legislation is backed by several advocacy groups including the American Hellenic Institute (AHI), the Hellenic American Leadership Council (HALC), Coordinated Effort of Hellenes, and PSKEA (Justice for Cyprus).
