The Cyprus-France Defense Cooperation Agreement entered into force on August 1 and ensures energy, crisis management, counter-terrorism and maritime security cooperation between the two countries.
According to an official announcement, the agreement, which was signed on April 4, 2017, entered into force on August 1, 2020 after the completion of internal procedures.
"This agreement strengthens and further expands the cooperation of the Republic of Cyprus with the French Republic, in matters of defense and security, while at the same time it is an important step towards achieving the common goal of ensuring a stable and secure environment in the Eastern Mediterranean," the announcement said.
The agreement "enhances co-operation between the two countries in the fields of energy and maritime security, early warning and crisis management, as well as tackling terrorism and piracy."
In addition, it states, "at the military level, co-operation in the fields of armaments and defense technology, joint training of military personnel and conducting search and rescue exercises is envisaged."
The Cyprus-France Defense Cooperation Agreement confirms "the excellent level of bilateral relations between the two countries and the multifaceted cooperation between them, something that was demonstrated during the recent meeting of Presidents Anastasiadis and Macron in Paris," the statement concluded.
The agreement comes as Turkey once again takes aim at Cyprus which it believes it should control in its entirety.
"As Turkey and TRNC with our brothers there, we continue and will continue our work in line with our rights and the international law," said Turkish defense minister Hulusi Akar last week.
He reiterated that any proposed solution for Cyprus and the Eastern Mediterranean that does not include Turkey and the illegal and unrecognised Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, will be futile and cannot be realised, according to Turkish state-owned Anadolu Agency.