Cyprus Marks Independence with Military Parade, Foreign Forces
Greek F-16s, Israeli air defense, and Egyptian troops join display as Athens pledges enduring support.
KEY POINTS
- Cyprus held 66th independence anniversary parade in Nicosia on Oct 1
- BARAK-MX air defense system displayed publicly for first time
- Greek F-16s, frigate, and ELDYK troops participated alongside Cypriot forces
- US, French, UK, and Egyptian military personnel marched in parade
- Greek Defense Minister Dendias pledged permanent support for Cyprus
Cyprus celebrated the 66th anniversary of its independence on October 1 with a large military parade in Nicosia. The event featured the public debut of the BARAK-MX air defense system, acquired in 2025, alongside Greek ELDYK ground units, Humvees, and Leonidas armored personnel carriers.
A pair of Greek F-16 fighter jets conducted a flyover while a Greek Navy frigate docked in Larnaca. Notably, military personnel from the United States, France, the United Kingdom, and Egypt marched alongside the Cypriot National Guard.
“Greece is and will remain here. Greece will always stand by Cyprus.”
Greek Defense Minister Nikos Dendias attended the ceremonies alongside UK Chief of the Air Staff Air Chief Marshal Sir Richard Knighton. Dendias met President Nikos Christodoulides and Archbishop George, declaring that Greece "will always stand by Cyprus."
Dendias emphasized that the Republic remains under the consequences of invasion and occupation for over half a century. He cited Greece's "Agenda 2030" defense program as the mechanism providing deterrence capability in adherence to international law.
Independent Türkçe analyzed the parade as evidence of a crystallizing international security network around the Greek Cypriot administration. The outlet highlighted Egypt's participation as the most significant development for Turkey, signaling a deepening strategic alignment against Ankara's guarantor rights.
2 more sources below
COMMENTS (0)
No comments yet. Be the first.
RELATED STORIES
Ceuta President Testifies He Warned Madrid 10 Times Before Migrant Surge
Juan Jesús Vivas told a judge he called Moncloa repeatedly and spoke with four ministers who labeled the situation a migration crisis, not a security threat.
Pentagon Creates Autonomous Warfare Command to Accelerate AI, Drone Integration
New four-star command aims to speed deployment of unmanned systems across U.S. military by 2027.
US, Australia close Brazil embassies days before election; PF warns of coup plot
Brazilian intelligence agencies alert to a psychological operation allegedly coordinated by the White House to destabilize Sunday's presidential vote.
- Bolivya, Adli Bakanı Mariaca'yı Uyuşturucu ve Para Aklama Suçlamalarıyla Tutukladı
- Zelensky: North Korea Preparing 10,000 More Troops for Russia
- Dendias Urges Rapid EU Defence Build-Up, Cites Turkey Threat
- NASA Moves Retired SR-71 Blackbird to Hangar, Fueling Return-to-Flight Speculation
- Flydubai pilot stabbed by co-pilot saves 174 on Tel Aviv flight
This page was compiled with AI assistance from the outlets named above and passed an automated language check before publication. Montegre has no reporters of its own; the byline names the outlets the story was compiled from. Method and editorial standards