With the participation of eight countries and more than 15 government agencies of the Republic of Cyprus, the multinational exercise “NEMESIS 2026” in Cyprus’s EEZ, with scenarios covering emergency response on a hydrocarbon extraction platform, maritime security, and the protection of critical infrastructure. Specifically, personnel and assets from eight countries participated in the exercise: Cyprus, Greece, France, the United Kingdom, the United States, Israel, Italy, and Egypt.
The exercise was observed from the “Evangelos Florakis” Naval Base in Mari by Minister of Defense Vasilis Palmas, Minister of Justice Kostas Fytiris, Agriculture Christos Senekis, Deputy Minister of Migration Nikolas Ioannidis, as well as the ambassadors of the participating countries.
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The exercise is part of the preparations by the government agencies involved in implementing the Republic of Cyprus’s energy program, with the aim of ensuring their readiness to respond to emergencies on a hydrocarbon extraction platform.
The scenarios included responding to a terrorist attack on a hydrocarbon extraction platform, boardings of suspicious vessels, the rescue and air evacuation of casualties, mass rescue operations, and the response to marine pollution. A particularly striking sight was the double flyover by a Greek F-16 Viper fighter jet over the exercise area. The Search and Rescue Coordination Center was responsible for the overall coordination of the exercise’s planning and execution, in cooperation with the Deputy Ministry of Shipping, the National Guard, the Cyprus Police, and the Department of Fisheries and Marine Research.
The Minister of Defense, Vasilis Palmas, emphasized the importance of maritime security, the protection of the sovereign rights of the Republic of Cyprus, and international cooperation in the Eastern Mediterranean. He noted that the exercise helped assess operational capabilities, test existing procedures, and strengthen coordination among participants in responding to emergencies, such as terrorist attacks, search-and-rescue operations, and incidents of marine pollution in the Cypriot EEZ. He emphasized that “the protection of maritime space, the safeguarding of sovereign rights, and security in the Eastern Mediterranean are consistent priorities of the Republic of Cyprus.”
The Minister of Agriculture, Rural Development, and the Environment, Christos Senekis, highlighted the importance of international cooperation in addressing environmental crises and protecting the marine and coastal areas of the Eastern Mediterranean. As he noted, Cyprus is strengthening its operational capabilities by investing in specialized vessels to respond to incidents of marine pollution caused by oil. He made special mention of the trilateral cooperation between Cyprus, Greece, and Israel, noting that the CypEx 2026 exercise involved maritime and aerial assets, as well as specialized personnel from the three countries.
The Commander of the National Guard, Lieutenant General Emmanouil Theodorou, highlighted the importance of coordination and cooperation between the National Guard, government agencies, and the armed forces of friendly nations in addressing crises at sea. He noted that the exercise provided an opportunity to assess operational capabilities and improve cooperation between the National Guard’s air and naval assets and the relevant government agencies and the armed forcesof the participating countries.
The Commander of the Search and Rescue Coordination Center, George Oikonomou, noted that the exercise, now in its eleventh iteration, takes on particular significance due to the resumption of the drilling program in the Cypriot EEZ. He emphasized the importance of coordination and cooperation at the national and international levels to support hydrocarbon exploration and production activities and strengthen energy security. Finally, he noted that the conclusions from the exercise will be used to improve national plans and operational procedures.
See what journalist Christoforos Nestoros reported on the Alpha Enimerosi program:
