Cyprus hosts multinational maritime exercises with France and US

A series of maritime exercises, including the search and rescue drill ‘CYFRA 04/26’ and the multi-national ‘Cyprus Arrow’ operation, took place in the waters south of Limassol. The CYFRA 04/26 exercise focused on strengthening cooperation between France and the Republic of Cyprus, involving a French warship equipped with helicopters alongside Cypriot air and sea assets and MEDEVAC teams.

The broader ‘Cyprus Arrow’ exercise expanded the scope of the drills to include warships from Greece, Germany, Italy, and the United States. These operations aim to enhance operational procedures for managing search and rescue incidents and to strengthen regional maritime cooperation.

The increased military coordination follows the signing of a Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA) in June 2026, which facilitates the deployment of French military elements on the island, building upon defense cooperation foundations established in 2017.