Cyprus National Guard Chief attends European defense conference in Rome

The 2nd European Conference of Chiefs of Defence and National Armaments Directors (CHOD/NAD) took place in Rome on September 21-22, 2026. The event convened military leaders and industry directors to address the pressing need for aligning European defense industrial production with current security requirements and the lessons learned from modern regional conflicts.

Lieutenant General Emmanouil Theodorou, Chief of the Cyprus National Guard, represented his country at the summit. During his formal intervention, he emphasized that maintaining European defense readiness requires a holistic approach that considers challenges across all strategic areas affecting the continent. Theodorou specifically called for a significant reduction in the timeline between the initial design, industrial production, and the subsequent operational deployment of military assets. He highlighted that future defense capabilities must prioritize high levels of adaptability and interoperability to remain effective in the evolving security landscape.

Beyond the formal plenary sessions, the conference served as a platform for military leaders to engage in bilateral discussions. Lieutenant General Theodorou utilized the opportunity to hold a series of meetings with his international counterparts to discuss shared security goals and defense cooperation.