Cyprus Marks Independence with Military Parade, Foreign Forces

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.