The US National Defence Authorisation Act (NDAA) adds the Republic of Cyprus to the list of countries eligible to participate in military training programs for Eastern Europe. 

Based on this development, the National Guard acquires the right to participate in multilateral exercises until 2027. Amendment 1233 introduces two key changes to a 2016 US military training program law.

Specifically, it allows the US military to continue training the security forces of Eastern European countries during joint exercises for an additional year, extending the expiration date from the end of 2026 to the end of 2027.

And it adds the Republic of Cyprus to the list of countries that are eligible for the specific military training programs. This means that Cyprus can now participate in these military training exercises under the United States together with other Eastern European countries. 

The specific amendment was introduced by the relevant Senate committee and has been included in the final text of the 2025 Defence Budget, which is expected to become US state law by the end of the year. 

The cross-party agreement for the inclusion of the amendment in question in the final text of the budget proves the increasing recognition of the strategic importance of the Republic of Cyprus in the wider region on behalf of Washington.

Source: ERT

Also read: USA – Cyprus cooperation | The National Guard enters the SPP program