Cyprus and Israel maintain a close military relationship. Cypriot and Israeli flags during a meeting in Israel

Since the deterioration of Israel–Turkey relations after the Gaza flotilla raid, the Cypriot-Israeli strategic and military relationship has grown considerably with the two nations becoming close regional security partners.[1][2][3]

Cyprus has also become a major buyer of Israeli equipment ranging to small arms to unmanned aerial vehicles while also assisting each other in humanitarian operations when needed.[4][5]

Joint military exercises

An Israeli jet takes off as part of the Onisilos-Gideon exercise.
Cypriot air defenses working to track "enemy" movements.

One of the first joint military exercises between Cyprus and Israel came in February 2014, where Israeli Air Force jets conducted an exercise against Cypriot air defenses using both F-16s and F-15s during the exercise.[6] The exercise took the codename Onisilos-Gideon and since then has taken place on an almost annual basis, with jets such as the Israeli F-35s being bought in.[7][8]

In May 2014, ships from the Israeli Navy for the first time, took part in the multinational exercise "Argnoaut", which was organised by the Cypriot authorities and held within the Nicosia Flight information region (Nicosia FIR).[9][10]

In March 2017, Cyprus took part as an observer in the noble dina exercise which is an exercise done by Israel and the United States however a small portion of the exercise was co-ordinated by the Cyprus Joint Rescue Coordination Center.[11][12] Since 2021 however, Cyprus has become an active member in the exercise.[13][14]

In June 2017, a major military exercise involving Cypriot special forces (LOK), Israeli special forces, including, the Oz Brigade and Egoz took place in the Troodos Mountains and Paphos Forest, with the Israeli troops being airlifted via C-130s Israeli Black-hawk helicopters.[15][16][17]

In the fall of 2018, the two nations held a joint air and special forces military exercise, the air exercise dubbed "Iason 2018" and the special forces exercise "Nikolidis-David".[18][19]

In 2022, exercise Agapinor was held between Cyprus and Israel, involving almost all divisions/branches from the Cypriot National Guard and the Israeli Defense Forces.[20] It was considered to be the largest exercise ever undertaken between the two countries in terms of personnel and equipment.[21][22] Agapinor was held again in 2023 but to a smaller scale.[23]

In May 2023, exercise Blue Sun-Jason was held again with the air forces of the two countries.[24]

Military hardware and access

Since the National Guards modernisation program came into place in with the Nicos Anastasiades government in 2013, Cyprus has bought multiple weapons and weapon systems from Israel including, the Tavor X95, Negev light machine gun and a number of UAVs.[25][26] It is also reportedly buying the Merkava battle tank and the Barak surface to air missile.[27][28][29] Cyprus also allows Israel partial access to its FIR for Search and rescue operations.[30]

Controversies

Various military exercises that have been conducted between Cyprus and Israel have come under scrutiny from both the Cypriot communist party and the Turkish government.[31][32]

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Major Potential in the Israel-Cyprus Friendship From the "Israel and the Mediterranean" Working Group". Mitvim. Retrieved 2023-11-14.
  2. ↑ Lefkovits, Etgar (2023-06-20). "Cyprus-Greece-Israel ties are a 'strategic partnership'". JNS.org. Retrieved 2023-11-14.
  3. ↑ "Cyprus and Israel thankful for mutual support". knews.com.cy. Retrieved 2023-11-14.
  4. ↑ "Israel Sends Planes to Battle 'Worst Forest Fire' in Cyprus History | United with Israel". UWI. 2021-07-04. Retrieved 2023-11-15.
  5. ↑ "Cyprus buys Israeli military hardware". middleeastmonitor.com. 2019-10-02.
  6. ↑ "Israeli Fighter Jets Challenge Cypriot Air Defense in Mock Battle Exercise – Defense Update:". defense-update.com. 2014-02-17. Retrieved 2023-11-15.
  7. ↑ "Army Seeks Proposals For Remote-Controlled Bradley Vehicle Replacement | Israeli F-35s Flew Over Cyprus in Exercise | India Received Its Ninth P-8i". Defense Industry Daily. Retrieved 2023-11-15.
  8. ↑ Redefined, Defence (2021-04-06). ""ONISILOS – GEDEON 2021" | Footage of Israeli F-35s and F-15s in Cyprus skies – VIDEO". Defence Redefined. Retrieved 2023-11-15.
  9. ↑ "Ολοκληρώθηκε η Άσκηση «Αργοναύτης 2014» με συμμετοχή της ΠΑ (φώτο & vid)". veteranos |Εθνικά Θέματα (in Greek). 2014-05-25. Retrieved 2023-11-15.
  10. ↑ "Αργοναύτης 2014 στην κυπριακή ΑΟΖ – ΦΩΤΟ". OnAlert (in Greek). 2014-05-24. Retrieved 2023-11-15.
  11. ↑ Opall-Rome, Barbara (2017-03-07). "Israel to stage naval drill with US, Greece in Eastern Mediterranean". Defense News. Retrieved 2023-11-15.
  12. ↑ "Για πρώτη φορά η Κύπρος συμμετείχε στη "NOBLE DINA" | AlphaNews.Live". www.alphanews.live (in Greek). Retrieved 2023-11-15.
  13. ↑ Frantzman, Seth (2021-03-12). "For first time, France and Cyprus join Israel's Noble Dina naval drill". Defense News. Retrieved 2023-11-15.
  14. ↑ Fabian, Emmanuel (2022-03-22). "IDF wraps up naval drill with Greece, France, Cyprus and US". timesofisrael.com.
  15. ↑ Vlassis, Savvas (2018-10-23). "Shayetet 13: "Όπως η νυχτερίδα αναδύεται στο σκοτάδι"". Δούρειος Ίππος. Retrieved 2023-11-15.
  16. ↑ "Israeli Commandos Heading to Cyprus for Largest-ever Drill". Haaretz. Retrieved 2023-11-15.
  17. ↑ Blumenthal, Itay (2017-06-15). "IDF Special Forces units hold joint military exercise in Cyrpus". Ynetnews. Retrieved 2023-11-15.
  18. ↑ "Ολοκληρώθηκαν με επιτυχία οι ασκήσεις «ΙΑΣΩΝ–2018» και «ΝΙΚΟΚΛΗΣ-ΔΑΥΙΔ-2018»". mod.gov.cy (in Greek). Retrieved 2023-11-15.
  19. ↑ Vlassis, Savvas (2018-11-03). "Άσκηση Ειδικών Δυνάμεων ΝΙΚΟΚΛΗΣ – ΔΑΥΙΔ 2018 στην Κύπρο". Δούρειος Ίππος. Retrieved 2023-11-15.
  20. ↑ Redefined, Defence (2022-05-27). "Exercise "Agapinor 2022" | Preparations are underway for the largest Cyprus – Israel exercise". Defence Redefined. Retrieved 2023-11-15.
  21. ↑ GEOPOLITIKI (2022-06-03). "Agapinor 2022: The largest exercise between Cyprus and Israel – GEOPOLITIKI". Retrieved 2023-11-15.
  22. ↑ "Μilitary exercise with Cyprus the largest ever in cooperation with a neighboring country, IDF say". ΚΥΠΕ. 2023-11-15. Retrieved 2023-11-15.
  23. ↑ "Cyprus and Israel strengthen military cooperation with AGAPINOR-2023 (Video)". knews.com.cy. Retrieved 2023-11-15.
  24. ↑ "'Blue Sun of Jason' air exercise tests National Guard with Israeli forces". in-cyprus.philenews.com. 2023-11-15. Retrieved 2023-11-15.
  25. ↑ Newsroom (2019-10-03). "Cyprus stocking up on drones | eKathimerini.com". www.ekathimerini.com. Retrieved 2023-11-16.
  26. ↑ Iddon, Paul. "Cyprus Is Planning A New Military Buildup". Forbes. Retrieved 2023-11-16.
  27. ↑ "Όχι Iron Dome – Το BARAK MX προμηθεύεται η Κύπρος". Δούρειος Ίππος. 2022-08-26. Retrieved 2023-11-16.
  28. ↑ "Η ΚΥΠΡΟΣ ΔΕΝ παίρνει Iron Dome αλλά "BARAK MX" για σύγχρονο "σύστημα αεράμυνας"; (vid.)". defence-point.gr. 2022-08-26.
  29. ↑ "Israel Plans to Sell Its Merkava Tanks to Cyprus". Haaretz. Retrieved 2023-11-16.
  30. ↑ Agdemir, A. Murat. "Relations between Israel and the South Cyprus Greek administration: A new alignment in the Eastern Mediterranean?" Perceptions, vol. 21, no. 2, summer 2016, pp. 103+. Gale Academic OneFile, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A488192724/AONE?u=anon~6c0968d8&sid=googleScholar&xid=f5ba2e62. Accessed 16 Nov. 2023.
  31. ↑ "Cyprus' involvement in Israel's military plans is dangerous". ΑΚΕΛ | Ανορθωτικό Κόμμα Εργαζομένου Λαού. 2022-06-02. Retrieved 2023-11-15.
  32. ↑ "Turkiye: Joint Israel military drills with Cyprus should not be provocative".
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