British navy takes part in joint exercise with Cyprus

British Royal Navy HMS Duncan took part in a joint exercise with Cyprus’ naval guard last week, it was reported on Monday.

According to the British High Commission in Nicosia, the exercise was part of an effort to boost naval cooperation.

“The Cyprus Navy and the Royal Navy continue to maximise opportunities for increased bilateral Maritime Defence Engagement,” it said.

Last month, the Royal Navy issued a statement saying the HMS Duncan and an RAF Typhoon successfully tracked and eliminated an aerial ‘threat’ during counter-drone training in the Mediterranean.

The Type 45 destroyer worked with a Typhoon FGR4 from RAF Akrotiri, in Cyprus, for the exercise which looked to see how both services can develop tactics and procedures against airborne threats.

Earlier this month, the defence ministry carried out military training exercises in Nicosia’s flight information region (FIR) in coordination with US forces.

The US military presence in Cyprus prompted a wave of backlash from Akel and protestors who accused 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.”

This was after news emerged that US amphibious assault ship, USS Wasp had arrived in Limassol.