Cyprus and Italy conduct joint naval exercise off Limassol

The Cypriot National Guard and the Italian Navy conducted a joint naval exercise, designated as PASSEX, on Monday, August 17, 2026. The training took place in the maritime area south of Limassol and was monitored by the Deputy Chief of the National Guard, Lieutenant General Neophytos Pachoulidis, who observed operations from the sea.

The exercise involved the National Guard's patrol vessel 'Ioannidis' and the Italian frigate 'Carabiniere', accompanied by its organic EH-101 helicopter. The drill focused on enhancing maritime cooperation, specifically practicing communications, the identification and verification of suspicious vessels, and joint boarding procedures. During the boarding operations, crews from both vessels successfully exchanged personnel to conduct standardized inspection protocols, demonstrating interoperability between the two naval forces.