NICOSIA, Cyprus (AP) — Cyprus’ defense minister said Wednesday that plans are underway to build a large naval base on the eastern Mediterranean island nation’s southern coast, capable of receiving large ships from European Union countries and from other nations to carry out a variety of missions, including humanitarian aid deliveries to the tumultuous Middle East region.
Vasilis Palmas told journalists that Cyprus’ recently elevated geopolitical role as the European Union’s closest member in the Middle East justifies the construction of infrastructure that can support region-oriented policies.
Cyprus has been the stage for the collection and delivery of donated humanitarian aid to war-torn Gaza. Aid is being sent from the Cypriot port of Larnaca to Palestinian territory after passing through a security check. Last year, Cyprus served as a transit point for third-country nationals evacuated from Sudan.
Palmas said that the construction of the base “will contribute decisively” to the implementation of policies in the region.
He said Greece is contributing technical expertise to the project, while the actual construction will be guided by the findings of a specialized study that will be completed in the coming days.
The naval base will be built on an existing naval installation about 25 kilometers (15 miles) east of the coastal city of Limassol, which in 2011 was the site of a huge explosion of 480 tons of seized Iranian gunpowder that killed 13 people, destroyed Cyprus’ main power station and provoked a political crisis.
