Newsroom
Cyprus has once again positioned itself as a regional pillar of stability, completing a large-scale multinational humanitarian drill aimed at handling crises in the volatile Middle East region.
The annual civil-military exercise “Argonaut 2025” wrapped up Thursday, with officials hailing its success as proof of Cyprus’ growing importance as a safe haven for evacuation efforts and humanitarian operations. The drill brought together 850 personnel and 28 naval and air assets from eight countries, including the U.S., U.K., France, Israel, and Egypt, along with observers from 31 nations and two international organizations.
“Cyprus may be small and limited in resources, but we’ve proven our readiness to support international law and humanitarian needs,”
Held across land, sea, and air, the three-phase exercise tested Cyprus’ emergency response to mass evacuations and search-and-rescue missions under pressure. The scenarios were realistic: civilians fleeing a conflict zone, foreign nationals arriving en masse at Limassol port, and complex maritime and aircraft accidents requiring swift, coordinated rescue.The Republic’s National Plans “Estia” and “Tefkros” were put to the test, plans designed to manage non-combatant evacuations and major search-and-rescue operations. Government agencies, foreign embassies, and international partners worked together in the simulations, stressing real-time cooperation and decision-making.
“This kind of training is crucial,” said Chief of the National Guard, Lt. Gen. Georgios Tsitsikostas. “In a complex and unpredictable world, joint exercises like Argonaut ensure that we remain ready to respond swiftly and decisively.”
The exercise culminated on Wednesday with a high-profile demonstration observed by Defence Minister Vasilis Palmas, Transport Minister Alexis Vafeades, top military brass, and dozens of diplomats.
Lt. Gen. Tsitsikostas reminded observers that recent world events, especially the October 7, 2023 conflict in the region, brought Cyprus from the geopolitical sidelines to the center of humanitarian attention.
“Cyprus may be small and limited in resources, but we’ve proven our readiness to support international law and humanitarian needs,” he said. “We remain committed to using our strategic location, infrastructure, and facilities to assist in times of crisis.”
