The Israeli government, under Benjamin Netanyahu, is planning to initiate talks with Cyprus in order to establish an Israeli Air Force base in the country, while affirming Israel’s “outstanding” relations with Nicosia, the capital of Cyprus. Netanyahu will be heading to Cyprus later this month, and will be holding talks on a number of issues, including the possibility of allowing Israel, in the first stage, to park some of its fighter-jets at the Andreas Papandreou base.
The issue is still in its initial examination stage, and it remains unclear when or if it will be implemented.
Senior Israeli sources reported that establishing a military base outside of Israel’s borders is a valid possibility.
Israeli daily Yedioth Aharonoth reported that the bilateral relations between Israel and Cyprus are good, and that the two countries are conducting coordinated security measures.
Israel is believed to be trying to boost its security and military cooperation with a number of countries in the region, especially due to tension with Iran and Turkey.
