Cyprus takes part in eastern med drill

Cyprus, Greece, France and Italy took further steps on Wednesday to strengthen their common naval and aerial presence in the eastern Mediterranean, through an operation that takes its name from an ancient Greek goddess but also meaning “order” in the ancient language.

According to a statement on Tuesday by the Defence Ministry of the Republic of Cyprus, the four countries were launching a Quadrilateral Initiative dubbed “Eunomia,” involving naval and aerial assets from all four EU-member states.

The drill will take place in waters south of Cyprus from Wednesday through Friday, where a broad range of naval and aviation exercises as well as Search and Rescue drills will be tested for readiness.

“Tensions and efforts to destabilize the Eastern Mediterranean through ongoing and protracted conflicts presently taking place have reached a peak, also due to growing friction on various issues” the Defence Ministry announcement said.

According to the Cyprus News Agency, the four countries gave priority to diplomatic channels but also wished to “contribute in a reinforced, collective naval presence, based on mutual understanding, on dialogue and on cooperation.”

The Cypriot defence ministry said the exercise was “tangible proof of the shared understanding and dedication to law-based rules, as part of efforts to de-escalate tension through political means.”