End the Cyprus Embargo Act

This bill ends the current U.S. policy that blocks most sales and transfers of American defense equipment and services to the Government of Cyprus, as long as Cyprus requests the sale and is the end user. The goal is to strengthen security ties with Cyprus, reduce its need to buy from countries that may work against U.S. interests, and support peace efforts on the island.

There are guardrails. The U.S. can still deny a sale if there are credible human-rights concerns. The President can pause this change for one fiscal year if needed for U.S. national security. Starting five years after the law takes effect, the President can turn the change off for five-year periods if Cyprus stops working with the U.S. on anti–money laundering reforms and stops denying Russian military ships access to its ports.

• Who is affected: Government of Cyprus, U.S. State Department, and U.S. defense exporters.
• What changes: The U.S. drops its default “deny” policy on arms sales to Cyprus, with a human-rights exception and a national security pause option. Longer-term, the policy can be turned off if Cyprus backtracks on financial reforms and on blocking Russian military port access.
• When: The change starts on the date the bill becomes law; the pause can last one fiscal year; the longer-term on/off option begins five years after enactment and can be renewed in five-year blocks.

Congress also states it supports stronger U.S.–Cyprus military cooperation, continued UN-led talks to resolve Cyprus’s division, and closer partnership programs in line with past U.S. law.