OR Cyprus she wants to be ready for the eventuality of joining it NATOthe Cypriot president said on Thursday Nikos Christodoulidiseven though the Turkey is committed to vetoing such a move.

“The fact that the Republic of Cyprus cannot become a NATO member state due to Turkey’s objections prevents the National Guard from many opportunities either to upgrade or acquire military equipment”said Mr. Christodoulidis, Christodoulidis said according to the agency. Bloomberg reminds that Turkey does not recognize the Republic of Cyprus.

It is the first time that Christodoulidis has publicly stated that Cyprus is taking steps to prepare a possible request to join the alliance, and his remarks come after a report that he presented his plan to US President Joe Biden during a recent visit to Washington.

Cyprus is in talks with the US on how “it can take advantage of these opportunities” that a request to NATO would offer, the president said.

There is no sign, however, of any change in Turkey’s opposition. For Cyprus to join NATO, all 32 members must approve the request, with each country having a separate veto right.

Cyprus, a member of the European Union, was effectively divided in 1963, when fighting broke out between its two main ethnic groups, Greek-speaking and Turkish-speaking Cypriots, the international agency emphasizes. It was completely divided in 1974, after Turkey occupied the northern third of the island.

Numerous UN-led efforts over the decades to reunite the country on the basis of a bizonal federation have failed. The most recent attempt came in 2021, when officials from Turkey, Greece and the United Kingdom – guarantor powers under an agreement that ended British colonial rule in Cyprus – met top Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot politicians in Geneva for three days of talks.

“Strengthening the deterrent force of the Republic of Cyprus is of the utmost importance for us and for this we take advantage of every opportunity, both with regard to the USA and NATO, as well as the European Union”said Mr. Christodoulidis.

Cyprus has already decided to strengthen and upgrade its naval and air bases. “In this context, we are in advanced consultations on the naval base with the European Union and on the air base with the US”emphasized Mr. Christodoulidis.