The US for the first time will provide international military education and training funding to Cyprus, as part of the State Department`s efforts to enhance relationships with key regional partners to promote stability in the eastern Mediterranean, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on Wednesday.

“As one of our expanding security relationship with the Republic of Cyprus. For the first time the Department of State intents to provide international military education and training funding to that country contingent on Congressional appropriation in our notification of Congress,” Pompeo during a press briefing.

“This is part of our efforts to enhance relationships with key regional partners to promote stability in the eastern Mediterranean,” he added.

The initiative is part of the International Military Education and Training (IMET) assistance provided for in the Eastern Mediterranean Security and Energy Partnership Act of 2019, that passed recently in the US.