..... Egypt, Israel, Lybia, Tunisia .....
Many other non- NATO countries border the Mediterranean Sea .....Syria, Lebanon, Cyprus .....
Ciprus ..... why not Cyprus ?
This country has a token air force lacking any actual transport capability.
Further, having Greece purchased a number of C-27Js and having Cyprus a real need for an aircraft in such a category, I think training and inter-operability factors with the parent country's air force might have played a prominent role in the choice.
Finally, Cyprus' particular political situation may justify the need to keep the deal secret ..... at least temporarily.