Cyprus has received an Israeli air defense system, according to local media reports on Thursday. This move comes as the eastern Mediterranean island seeks to diversify its defense partnerships following a reduction in supplies from Russia.

TV station Sigma indicated that the initial deliveries occurred on Tuesday, although Cypriot officials refrained from providing specific details regarding the report. Cypriot President Nikos Christodoulides stated, “I can only emphasize that we are committed to enhancing Cyprus‘s deterrence capabilities, not only due to our status as a country under occupation but also as an EU member in a region of significant geopolitical importance.”

Since the Turkish invasion in 1974, Cyprus has been divided, with the internationally recognized government in control of the south and a heavily militarized Turkish Cypriot state in the north. The Barak MX anti-aircraft system is set to augment and eventually replace the older Russian-made Tor M1 system. Historically, Russia has been a primary supplier of military equipment to Cyprus, but the volume of transactions declined even before the comprehensive export ban following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022.

These sanctions have resulted in a shortage of spare parts for Cyprus’s existing defense systems, hindering their upgrade capabilities, as noted by a senior Cypriot source speaking to Reuters. “This is why Cyprus is seeking partnerships with other EU nations and Israel. We are actively working to enhance our anti-aircraft defense,” the source explained. Cypriot officials typically do not disclose procurement plans due to ongoing tensions with Turkey.

In 1998, Cyprus sought to enhance its air defense capabilities by acquiring surface-to-air S-300 missiles from Russia, which led to a military standoff with Turkey. Consequently, Nicosia quickly redirected the missile system to Crete. At that time, neither Britain nor the United States supported this acquisition; however, relations with Washington have significantly improved in recent years as Cyprus has aligned its policies more closely with the West.