USS Wasp carries out training exercises with Turkish navy
The United States amphibious assault ship the USS Wasp, which had docked in Limassol earlier this month, has carried out training exercises with the Turkish navy.
The USS Wasphad announced in a social media post on its own official page that it had taken part in joint exercises alongside the USS Oak Hill, as well as the Turkish navy’s amphibious assault ship the TCG Anadolu, and fellow Turkish navy ship the TCG Gokova.
The exercises had taken place between August 13 and August 17.
The USS Wasp’s social media page said the exercises had taken place “in a demonstration of enduring cooperation and mutual commitment to maritime security”.
“There are good ships and wood (sic) ships, ships that sail at sea, but the best ships are friendships, and may they always be,” the page added.
The USS Wasp’s presence in Cyprus had sparked a political row on the island, with opposition party Akel accusing the government of dragging Cyprus into the middle of extremely heightened tensions by consenting to the “continuing concentration of foreign military forces on our island”.
Earlier, a small protest had been held in central Limassol against the ship’s presence.
US ambassador to Cyprus Julie Fisher offered her reassurances that the ship had docked in Limassol “in support of long-planned US-Cyprus partnership activities”.
“The visit comes at a time when the US continues all efforts along with key partners to de-escalate regional tensions and to be prepared to support civilians in crisis,” she said.
Defence Minister Vasilis Palmas also weighed in on the matter, speaking of his “sadness” at “some publications and also some political parties” which criticised the government’s handling of the situation.
“There is nothing reprehensible, there is no fault, we are a recognised, democratic, modern state inside the international community, and we have every right, the inalienable right, to perform exercises for the purpose of being ready if and when issues arise,” he said.