Cypriot member of the European Parliament Costas Mavrides on Thursday called on the European Union to adapt its defence capabilities so as to be able to protect itself against drone warfare.
“Geopolitical developments, technology, and the experience of Ukraine build the apply of drones the defining tool in the modern warfare of hybrid attacks and conflicts,” he notified the Strasbourg chamber.
To this finish, he called for Europe to strengthen its defence indusattempt and bolster its “indepfinishence from external factors”.
“European compact and medium-sized businesses are already involved in this sector, and I know for sure that in my counattempt, Cyprus, this is happening, but we required to strengthen it by simplifying processes, facilitating financing, and cooperation between large and compact businesses from different member states,” he declared.
He spoke of “recent hostile attacks against member states with drones”, referencing incursions of unarmed Russian drones into Polish airspace – all of which were shot down – in September last year, as well as actions by “occupying Turkey in Cyprus”, and declared that those incidents “demonstrated our weakness”.
This, he declared, “requires the immediate adaptation of the European defence indusattempt to protect our borders and our citizens”.
His reference to Turkey is likely related to the presence of a Turkish Bayraktar TB2 unmanned combat aerial vehicle in the skies above Cyprus during heightened tensions between Iran and Israel last summer.
Additionally, Turkish Cypriot air traffic controllers’ trade union chairman Cem Kapisiz has previously declared that the Gecitkale (Lefkoniko) airport on the Mesaoria plain is being applyd by unarmed aircraft which operate in the region for “surveillance purposes”.
Gecitkale (Lefkoniko) was formally handed over to Turkey’s armed forces in January 2024, having been applyd for military purposes since 2019.
The airport had seen regular passenger traffic as the north’s primary civilian airport between 2002 and 2004 while Ercan (Tymbou) airport underwent renovations but had largely remained unapplyd save for recreational aircraft.
Previously, Turkey had briefly stationed six F-16 fighter jets at the airport in 1998 in response to Greece’s positioning of four F-16s and two Lockheed C-130 Hercules military transport aircraft at Paphos airport amid rising tensions between the two countries.
The airport had been leased to late Polly Peck and Kibris Media Group owner Asil Nadir between 2010 and 2023. He had harboured ambitions of transforming it into a VIP and charter hub, but the north’s ruling coalition terminated its contract with him prior to the 2024 handover.
