Cypriot President Nikos Christodoulides has welcomed Norway’s decision to open applications for the export of defence and dual-use military equipment to Cyprus, describing it as “an important step in strengthening bilateral defence cooperation.”
“I warmly welcome Norway’s decision, conveyed today by the Norwegian Foreign Minister Espen Barth Eide, to open applications for the export of defence-related and dual-use materials for military use to Cyprus. This marks a significant step in deepening the defence cooperation between Cyprus and Norway,” President Christodoulides said in a post on X.
The Norwegian government formally announced the lifting of its arms embargo against the Republic of Cyprus in a phone call between Foreign Minister Espen Barth Eide and President Christodoulides. The embargo had been in place since 1959 — over six decades — as part of Norway’s long-standing policy of refraining from exporting weapons to countries experiencing war, threats of war, or internal conflict.
Government sources in Nicosia described the development as a move of “particular political and diplomatic importance,” noting that it ends a restrictive regime that had remained in effect for more than 65 years. Espen Barth Eide, who previously served as the UN Secretary-General’s Special Envoy for Cyprus during the critical 2017 Crans-Montana talks, was often viewed as maintaining a friendly stance toward Turkey — a fact that makes this policy reversal even more notable.
“The Norwegian government’s decision to revise its defence export framework toward Cyprus constitutes recognition of the Republic’s role as a reliable partner and a pillar of security in the Eastern Mediterranean,” a government source stated.
The same source added that this outcome was the result of “coordinated diplomatic efforts and sustained dialogue” between Nicosia and Oslo, aimed at restoring equal treatment for Cyprus within European and transatlantic cooperation frameworks.
The lifting of the embargo is expected to further strengthen cooperation between the two countries, not only in defence but also in broader efforts to promote stability and security in the Eastern Mediterranean. Cyprus and Norway are already working closely on energy and environmental issues within their European and international partnerships, underlining the growing strategic ties between the two nations.
