For the first time, Cypriots will have the opportunity to admire Cyprus’s “iron dome” up close. The Barak Mx. air defense system, the National Guard’s newest acquisition and pride and joy, will be showcased during the military parade on October 1.  

VASILIS PALMAS, Minister of National Defense: “It will
be an upgraded parade to honor the Republic of Cyprus’s Independence Day.”

Greece will be represented by Nikos Dendias, while Egypt will be represented by a guard of honor comprising a detachment from the Egyptian Armed Forces. And the surprises don’t end there, as units from other allied countries are also expected to attend. Earlier, Vasilis Palmas will be in Cairo, where he will hold a trilateral meeting with his counterparts from Greece and Egypt.
 
VASILIS PALMAS, MINISTER OF DEFENSE: “On
Monday, I’m traveling to Egypt, where we will review and update our trilateral relationship regarding exercises and training.”
 
The Minister of Defense sent a stern message to Ankara regarding the escalation of violations of the Nicosia FIR by Turkish aircraft and the harassment of Greek fighter jets and even passengeraircraft.

VASILIS PALMAS—Minister of Defense: “We
are doing what we must do; beyond that, we do not want to reach a point where the situation could lead down a dangerous path.”
According to Vasilis Palmas,
the renewal of the lifting of the arms embargo on the Republic of Cyprus for another year allows for the completion of agreements on military matters that have been in the works for the past few years.  These include the modernization of the Andreas Papandreou Air Base in Paphos by 2027 and the procurement of 40 Hummer-type military vehicles.

At the same time, Turkey’s criticism of Congress’s decision continues unabated.
ZEKI
AKTUR, Spokesperson for the Turkish Ministry of Defense
: “The U.S. decision constitutes a step that may have a negative impact on the balance of power on the island.”

The Turkish reaction is causing a storm in the waters of the Eastern Mediterranean, all the way to the northern coast of Cyprus, where the scope of the Turkish “Thalassolykos” air and naval exercise will extend.
 
ATV: “All
of this is happening simultaneously in four different seas. Look at the size of the Turkish Navy.”

The Turkish exercise begins on Sunday, just one day after the conclusion of the multinational MEDUSA exercise in the Aegean Sea, with the participation of Greece, Egypt, Cyprus, France, and Italy.
 
VASILIS PALMAS, Minister of National Defense: “The
Hellenic Armed Forces conduct exercises daily, either bilaterally or trilaterally; this is how modern armies must be trained.”
 
Turkey is deploying its fleet to the Eastern Mediterranean amid a resurgence of tensions in Greek-Turkish relations, with Nicosia and Athens on high alert.

See the report by Christoforos Nestoros:

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