President Nikos Christodoulides declared on Tuesday at the DEFEA 2026 exhibition in Athens that the European Union can advance its defence and security capabilities independently of the United States. Emphasizing that Cyprus aspires to join NATO when political conditions permit, he urged the full operationalization of the EU’s Article 42.7 mutual defence clause. Christodoulides highlighted the Security Action for Europe instrument, which could provide Cyprus with approximately €1.2 billion for defence investments. Amidst global instability, including the war in Ukraine and Middle East conflicts, he stressed the necessity of strategic autonomy. Furthermore, he praised the Cypriot defence industry, noting that 18 local companies have secured €65 million in funding through various European defence projects over the past five years.