Multinational naval exercises conducted off the coast of Limassol

On Monday, August 17, 2026, the Cyprus National Guard participated in the multinational naval exercise "Cyprus Arrow 2026" off the southern coast of Limassol. The drill involved naval units from five nations, including the Cypriot patrol vessel "Ioannidis," the Greek frigate "Nikiforos Fokas," the US destroyer "Paul Ignatius," the Italian frigate "Carabiniere," and the German frigate "Baden-Württemberg." Participants engaged in tactical movements, advanced maneuvers, and communication drills to enhance operational coordination at a multinational level.

In addition to the "Cyprus Arrow 2026" exercises, the Cypriot Naval Command conducted a separate PASSEX drill with the Italian Navy. This exercise, observed by the National Guard leadership including Lieutenant General Neophytos Pachoulidis, focused on vessel identification, verification procedures, and consensual boarding operations. The Italian frigate "Carabiniere" utilized its onboard EH-101 helicopter during these specific interactions. These joint activities were organized to strengthen military cooperation and regional security partnerships between Cyprus and its international allies.