The Eastern Mediterranean has once again moved to the center of global geopolitics. Growing military activity around Cyprus, the arrival of new naval forces in the region, rising diplomatic tensions, and the shifting strategic positions of key actors are turning the Cyprus issue into one of the most important elements of the regional security equation. Against this background, the rivalry among major powers for influence in the Eastern Mediterranean is becoming increasingly visible, as the interests of Türkiye, the European Union, the United Kingdom, France, and several Middle Eastern countries intersect there.

Ukraine’s F-16 Fighting Falcon fighter jets were left without enough air-to-air missiles for more than three weeks late last year, forcing pilots to improvise as Russia intensified its winter aerial assault, according to sources familiar with the situation.

Romania scrambled two F-16 fighter jets on Friday after Russian drones targeted Ukrainian port infrastructure in the southern Odesa region, close to the Romanian border, the country’s Ministry of Defence said.

The US Department of State has approved the potential sale of various equipment for F-16 fighter jets and related services worth $266.4 million in total to Ukraine, the Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) said.