Shemaine Bushnell Kyriakides
I’ll admit, it’s not every Monday morning I find myself behind the high-security gates of the U.S. Embassy in Nicosia, surrounded by Marines, special agents, Cyprus bomb squads, trained dogs, and a robot. But this week was different.
In an exclusive invitation from the U.S. Embassy, I was the only journalist allowed inside to observe what turned out to be a gripping, real-time emergency preparedness drill. And let me tell you, it wasn’t just for show.
The goal? To test the embassy's and Cyprus’s emergency response teams in handling high-stress, worst-case scenarios. This year’s annual drill involved two intense situations: an active shooter inside the compound with casualties, followed by a bomb threat on embassy grounds. It was loud, fast, and uncomfortably realistic.
And yes, it was very hot out.
Cooperation in action
The embassy doesn’t usually open its doors to the press during drills, so the fact that KNews was invited speaks volumes. This wasn’t just about running through a safety checklist; it was about showing the strong, growing partnership between Cyprus and the United States.
From where I stood (safely out of the line of simulated fire), the cooperation was crystal clear. American Marines moved swiftly alongside Cyprus Police. Medics coordinated with security teams. Cyprus' Emergency Ordinance Disposal (EOD) units, including bomb techs, K-9 teams, casualty response teams, and yes, even a robot, were all deployed with precision.
And there were plenty of embassy staff watching too, gathered in shady spots to observe the unfolding drill. You could feel the seriousness of the moment, but also the shared pride in how far this bilateral cooperation has come.
The man in charge, and the one in the suit
The drill was led by Special Agent Micah Altenburg of U.S. Diplomatic Security. He’s been stationed in several countries before, but he told me that Cyprus is unique. “The coordination and mutual respect here are special,” he said. “It’s not something you find everywhere.”
Meanwhile, I found myself silently rooting for the poor Cyprus officer in the bomb suit, who, layered in what looked like 50 kilos of gear, trudged across the embassy courtyard in full sun. The suit might be blast-proof, but it’s definitely not sweat-proof. The man definitely deserves an iced coffee and a week in an air-conditioned room.
Meet Amber...and yes, I took a selfie with her
Of course, I couldn’t leave without meeting one of the real stars of the day: Amber, the Belgian Malinois bomb-sniffing dog. She was fired up and ready, sniffing and scanning the area like a pro. Her handler beamed with pride as he told me about Cyprus’s 30 working dogs trained for explosives, narcotics, and search and rescue. My next story, thank you!
I was warned that Amber is “all business” when she’s working, but off-duty? Total sweetheart. Yes, I absolutely took a selfie with her. (Wouldn’t you?)
Tech that tells a bigger story
The robot used during the bomb threat drill looked like something out of a movie, slow and deliberate, extending its mechanical arm to inspect a mock explosive. But this wasn’t just a cool gadget. After the U.S. lifted its arms embargo on Cyprus, the embassy facilitated the supply of bomb disposal robots to the Cyprus Ministry of Defense. That’s a pretty clear sign of how strategic and practical the U.S.-Cyprus relationship has become
Why this drill mattered
The embassy runs smaller drills throughout the year, but this one, held annually, is the big one. It's when every agency comes together: Americans, Cypriots, military, police, medics, robots, and dogs.
And this year, they allowed a journalist inside to watch it unfold. Not because it was a PR stunt, but because they wanted to show the real thing: the effort, the sweat, the cooperation, and the serious planning that goes into protecting lives and maintaining diplomatic security.
Watching it all play out, I realized this wasn’t just a test of systems; it was a show of trust. Between colleagues. Between allies. And between nations.
And yes, I’ve got the picture with Amber to prove I was there.
