Southern Cyprus considers building a naval base in Mari, rekindling past plans

According to a report by the weekly newspaper Simerini, the new government of South Cyprus is considering building a naval base in Mari, and President Nikos Anastasiadis is reportedly in favor of the idea. The proposal has been brought up before but was abandoned due to economic and political reasons, as well as British perceptions of the area.

The French have reportedly been in talks with South Cyprus about building the naval base, with the understanding that the cost of construction would be covered by the Cypriot government. The benefits of such a base would include an increase in the region's geopolitical and geostrategic role, as well as the ability to host naval ships from France, other EU member states, Israel, Egypt, and other countries in the region.

The report also states that the base would strengthen Cyprus' position in the Eastern Mediterranean and would help to prevent Ankara from controlling maritime routes and making Cyprus its mandate. In addition, the base would allow Cyprus to gain experience in naval operations, which it currently lacks.

If a naval base were built in Mari, it would include technical support infrastructure, facilities for accepting ships and crews, and facilities capable of hosting warships up to the frigate class. The report concludes that the establishment of such a base would increase the ability to conduct naval exercises in the region and send necessary messages to appropriate parties.