New Delhi, May 22 -- Cyprus showed interest in purchasing Indian military equipment, mentioning New Delhi's proven capabilities and the "real situation" testing of its hardware, according to a Cypriot official.

The defence push follows the elevation of bilateral ties to a strategic partnership after Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Cyprus last year.

Cyprus is currently looking to utilise its 1.2 billion euro defence budget to enhance military capabilities, specifically exploring procurement and joint ventures with the Indian defence industry, including the drone sector.

Highlighting regional security and defence cooperation, a Cypriot official noted that India's military capabilities have been thoroughly tested in real-world sce...