Warships from five countries conduct exercises off the coast of Limassol

On 17 August, the small-scale international naval exercise Cyprus Arrow 2026 took place in the waters south of Limassol, involving ships from Cyprus, Greece, the United States, Italy and Germany. Cyprus was represented by the patrol vessel «Ioannidis» of the National Guard Naval Command. Greece deployed the frigate «Nikiforos Fokas», the United States the destroyer «Paul Ignatius», Italy the frigate «Carabiniere», and Germany the frigate «Baden-Württemberg». During the exercise, the crews practised tactical manoeuvres, joint ship handling, technical procedures and radio communications. The participants also tested their ability to operate and coordinate activities as part of a multinational force.

The exercise was another example of Cyprus’s military cooperation with European countries and the United States. Against this backdrop, the government of the Republic of Cyprus is also highlighting another strategic area of cooperation — the Great Sea Interconnector project, which is intended to link the electricity grids of Cyprus and Greece.

Government spokesperson Konstantinos Letymbiotis said that the participation of a French company in the project strengthens the positions of Cyprus and Greece not only from a technical perspective, but also diplomatically and geopolitically.

According to him, President of the Republic of Cyprus Nikos Christodoulides is maintaining contacts with French President Emmanuel Macron and Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis to coordinate the project at the highest political level.