France is reportedly shifting its stance on selling the advanced SAMP/T air defence system to Turkey, marking a potential breakthrough after years of political opposition. This development comes ahead of the NATO summit in Ankara and amid deepening defence relations between Cyprus and France. Earlier this year, Cyprus and France signed a Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA), strengthening military cooperation in the Eastern Mediterranean.

According to sources, France may now be more open to negotiations following recent talks between French President Emmanuel Macron and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni. However, France must balance this with concerns from Greece and Cyprus, both of which have strategic partnerships with France and have expressed reservations about the sale due to regional tensions with Turkey.

The SAMP/T system, produced by the Franco-Italian Eurosam consortium, is considered Europe’s closest equivalent to the US Patriot missile system and is capable of intercepting ballistic missiles. Turkey aims to acquire the system for its Steel Dome integrated air and missile-defense network, but progress has been slow due to past diplomatic disputes. Cyprus maintains its commitment to enhancing national security independently, emphasizing defence capability development through European initiatives.