A joint training was held between the Special Operations Forces of the Hellenic Navy, the USA and Cyprus from January 11-29, 2021. The participating forces carried out exercises in Naval Special Operations in the wider sea area of ​​Souda in Crete.

The joint training aimed at upgrading the level of cooperation, understanding and interoperability between the participating forces, enhancing operational capabilities and exchanging experiences between the personnel of the three countries.

A team from the Underwater Disaster Unit of the Navy Command of the National Guard participated in the joint training on behalf of the Republic of Cyprus.

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The exercise was designed in the broader context of the implementation of naval deterrence operations and included, among other things, Over the Beach (OTB), Visit Board Search and Seizure (VBSS) and Small Boat Interdiction (SBI).

In a statement, the Minister of Defence, Mr. Charalambos Petridis, stated that such joint exercises provide invaluable experiences for the personnel of our Armed Forces and therefore the Ministry of Defence looks forward to similar initiatives in the future, which contribute to strengthening security and stability in the region.

On his part, the Greek Minister of Defence, Mr. Nikolaos Panagiotopoulos, noted that the integration of the Cypriot forces created the opportunity to expand our operational capabilities and cooperation with friendly countries – partners in the region. He also stressed that “we grow stronger by cross-training together with our partners and allies.”

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