As part of his official visit to Serbia on 23 September 2025,  the Minister of Defence of the Republic of Cyprus, Mr. Vasilis  Palmas, met with his Serbian counterpart, Mr. Bratislav  Gašić. During the meeting, the excellent relations between  Cyprus and Serbia were reaffirmed, along with the historical  ties between the two peoples and the mutual respect and  trust that characterize the bilateral cooperation in the fields of  defence and security. 

The two Ministers exchanged views on further strengthening  military and technical cooperation, including issues related to  defence, security, and armaments. They confirmed the  shared intention of both countries to deepen cooperation and  explore new opportunities within the framework of their  bilateral mechanism. The discussion also included Serbia– European Union relations, with Cyprus reiterating its support  for Serbia’s European path, especially in view of the  upcoming Cypriot Presidency of the Council of the EU. 

Minister Palmas thanked Minister Gašić for the open  discussion, emphasizing that today’s meeting marks an  important step in further strengthening the friendly relations  between Serbia and Cyprus, as well as advancing bilateral  defence cooperation. He added that the Partner 2025  international defence exhibition offers a valuable opportunity  to learn more about the latest developments in the Serbian  Defence Industry and to explore potential avenues for  expanding cooperation in this area. 

The Ministers also exchanged views on developments in the  Middle East and the role of the Republic of Cyprus as a  humanitarian hub. In parallel, Mr. Palmas briefed his  counterpart on the latest developments in the Cyprus issue  and the challenges posed by Turkey’s ongoing intransigence  and provocative actions. 

For his part, the Serbian Minister of Defence, Mr. Gašić,  presented Serbia’s positions on the security situation in the  region, with particular reference to the situation in Kosovo, as  well as broader regional developments. During the meeting,  Minister Gašić highlighted the importance of defence  cooperation and the potential for strengthening it further in all  areas of mutual interest. He noted that while Serbia is  committed to military neutrality, it will continue to develop and  advance its relations with other countries and military-political  alliances, in line with its national interests and with the goal of  strengthening global, regional and national security.  

Minister Gašić expressed hope that the coming period would  see an expansion of cooperation in the field of military  industry, with the aim of enhancing the operational  capabilities of both countries’ armed forces. He emphasized  that members of the Serbian Armed Forces and the National  Guard of Cyprus have held constructive talks recently, with  the aim of deepening future cooperation, and concrete proposals have been put forward for the period ahead.  Minister Gašić also said that members of the Ministry of  Defence and the Serbian Armed Forces are currently serving  with the United Nations Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus  (UNFICYP). He noted that the Serbian personnel remain  committed to justifying the trust placed in them through  professionalism, dedication, and hard work, contributing to  the fulfilment of the mission’s mandate.  

During his stay in Serbia, Mr. Palmas also visited the 12th  International Arms and Military Equipment Exhibition  “PARTNER-2025.” ©