Newsroom
The small-scale “Cyprus Arrow 2026” exercise took place Monday, Aug. 17, in waters south of Limassol and brought together five naval vessels from the participating countries.
Cyprus was represented by the National Guard Naval Command’s “Ioannidis” patrol boat, while Greece sent the Hellenic Navy frigate “Nikiforos Fokas.” The U.S. Navy took part with the destroyer “Paul Ignatius,” Italy with the frigate “Carabiniere” and Germany with the frigate “Baden-Württemberg.”
The exercise focused on practical naval cooperation, with the crews carrying out tactical movements, advanced maneuvers, technical drills and communications exercises.
The participating forces also tested how well their ships could work together and coordinate operations as part of a multinational force.
While the exercise highlighted Cyprus’ growing military cooperation with European and NATO partners, the government was also stressing another form of cooperation, the planned electricity connection between Cyprus and Greece.
Government spokesman Konstantinos Letymbiotis, speaking to Open on Tuesday, said the participation of a French company in the Great Sea Interconnector project gives the project added weight, not only from a technical point of view but also in terms of diplomacy and geopolitics.
Asked whether French involvement could reduce the geopolitical risks surrounding the project, Letymbiotis said it strengthens the position of Cyprus and Greece.
“The entry of France strengthens, I think, much more the diplomatic power that the Republic of Cyprus, Greece together with France and the European Union have,” he said.
Letymbiotis also confirmed that President Nikos Christodoulides has been in contact with French President Emmanuel Macron and Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis over the project.
According to the spokesman, the leaders communicated both before the French participation was officially announced and again in recent days. The aim, he said, is to ensure “coordination at the highest political level” over a project considered a priority by both Cyprus and Greece.
The government is also keen to underline that the electricity link is not simply a Cyprus-Greece project.
Letymbiotis stressed its European dimension, saying the interconnection is a project of common European interest.
For Cyprus, the significance goes beyond simply connecting the island to Greece's electricity network. The government views the project as having wider strategic and diplomatic importance, particularly as Cyprus continues to strengthen its ties with European partners.
Taken together, this week's developments put the spotlight on two different but increasingly important areas of cooperation for Cyprus: working with international partners at sea and strengthening its strategic links with Europe on energy.
