US Senate votes to lift Cyprus arms embargo; Nicosia reserved about parts of amendment

The US Senate on Thursday voted to lift a decades-old arms embargo against Cyprus and to cut Turkey off the American F-35 fighter jet program if it proceeds with the acquisition of the Russian S-400 missile defense system. 

The measures were passed through the National Defense Authorization Act in the 2020 draft budget via an amendment introduced by Democratic Senator Bob Menendez, a similar version of which has been introduced by Democratic Congressman David Cicilline to the House, which will vote on defense spending in the next few days.

The amendment uses identical language to the Eastern Mediterranean Security and Partnership Act for strengthening US energy cooperation with Cyprus, Israel and Greece that was approved by the Senate Foreign Relations Committee on Tuesday. However, it also requires Cyprus to continue reforming anti-money laundering legislation and...