Cyprus rejects Greek Leopard 1A5 tanks following inspection

A delegation from the Cyprus National Guard inspected Greek Leopard 1A5 main battle tanks to determine if they could replace the obsolete fleet of 126 EE-9 Cascavel vehicles, acquired in 1980. The inspection concluded that the Leopard 1A5 tanks do not meet current operational requirements of the National Guard, even as an interim measure. Contrary to recent reports on some Greek websites, no agreement exists between Athens and Nicosia for the transfer of these vehicles. The Cypriot Ministry of Defence and the General Staff (GEEF) continue efforts to modernize the armored fleet. Israeli Merkava tanks remain a primary objective for procurement. However, current negotiations regarding the Merkava tanks are stalled due to ongoing Israeli military operations in southern Lebanon and the high domestic demand for armor by the Israel Defense Forces.