Cypriot National Guard conducts naval exercises with international partners

On Monday, August 17, 2026, the Cypriot National Guard participated in two distinct naval activities off the southern coast of Limassol. The first was a multinational exercise titled 'Cyprus Arrow 2026', which involved naval assets from Cyprus, Greece, the United States, Italy, and Germany. The second engagement was a dedicated PASSEX (Passing Exercise) conducted specifically with the Italian Navy.

The multinational 'Cyprus Arrow 2026' exercise featured the Cypriot patrol vessel 'Ioannidis', the Greek frigate 'Nikiforos Fokas', the U.S. destroyer 'Paul Ignatius', the Italian frigate 'Carabiniere', and the German frigate 'Baden-Württemberg'. Participants executed advanced maneuvers, communication drills, and tactical movements to enhance interoperability. During the PASSEX, the Cypriot vessel 'Ioannidis' and the Italian frigate 'Carabiniere', supported by an EH-101 helicopter, practiced boarding procedures, vessel identification, and joint control operations. The exercises were observed by the leadership of the Cypriot National Guard, including Lieutenant General Neofytos Pachoulidis, and aimed to bolster regional defense cooperation and coordination between allied forces.