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| Military of Cyprus | |
|---|---|
| Name | National Guard of Cyprus |
| Native name | Εθνική Φρουρά |
| Founded | 1960 |
| Headquarters | Nicosia |
| Commander in chief | President of Cyprus |
| Minister | Minister of Defence |
| Commander | Chief of National Guard |
| Active personnel | ~12,000 |
| Reserve | ~200,000 |
| Ranks | Cyprus Defence Forces ranks |
Military of Cyprus The National Guard of Cyprus is the principal defense force of the Republic of Cyprus, responsible for territorial defence of the Republic of Cyprus and safeguarding the internationally recognized sovereignty of the island after the Cyprus dispute and the Turkish invasion of Cyprus. Formed after independence under the 1960 Treaty of Establishment and influenced by experiences from the Cypriot intercommunal violence (1963–64), the force has evolved through periods of rearmament, crises such as the 1974 Cypriot coup d'état and the subsequent 1974 Turkish invasion of Cyprus, and ongoing interactions with actors including Greece, Turkey, United Kingdom, and organizations such as the United Nations and the European Union.
The origins of Cyprus' armed forces trace to post-Independence of Cyprus (1960) structures created under the Treaty of Guarantee alongside remnants of EOKA and units influenced by veterans of the Hellenic Army and Greek junta (1967–1974). Intercommunal clashes between Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot communities culminated in the 1963–64 crisis, prompting reorganizations and the establishment of the modern National Guard. The 1974 Cyprus coup d'état backed by the Regime of the Colonels in Greece precipitated the Turkish invasion of Cyprus (1974), causing territorial loss and long-term division marked by the proclamation of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus in 1983. Subsequent decades saw procurement from countries like France, Russia, Israel, and Greece and participation in international missions under UNFICYP and EU Battlegroup frameworks. Significant events include the Akritas plan controversies, arms procurement scandals such as the Cyprus–Israel arms deals, and repeated UN-mediated negotiations including the Annan Plan and talks chaired by Kofi Annan and António Guterres.
Command of Cyprus' defense forces is vested in the office of the President of Cyprus as commander-in-chief, with operational control exercised by the Minister of Defence (Cyprus) and the Chief of National Guard. The structure includes land, air, and naval components modeled after the Hellenic Army, Hellenic Navy, and Hellenic Air Force traditions and integrated with reserve formations tracing to territorial brigades and militia units such as former Cypriot militia entities. Key institutions include the National Guard General Staff, the Ministry of Defence (Cyprus), and advisory bodies liaising with the National Security Council (Cyprus), while coordination with UNFICYP and the British Forces Cyprus at bases like Akrotiri and Dhekelia is routine. Legal frameworks derive from the Republic of Cyprus Constitution (1960) arrangements and subsequent defence legislation.
Active formations center on mechanized brigades, artillery regiments, commando and special forces units, air wing squadrons, and coastal patrol flotillas. Land units include mechanized brigades equipped in part by T-80 and Leopard 2 main battle tank types procured from partners like Russia and Germany, alongside infantry battalions influenced by Hellenic Army doctrine. Special operations draw on traditions from units comparable to U.S. Army Special Forces and European counterparts, with training links to Greek Special Forces and exchanges with Israel Defense Forces units. The air component fields transport and attack helicopters influenced by models such as the Mi-35 and Western rotorcraft, while naval assets include offshore patrol vessels, fast attack craft, and missile-capable platforms comparable to those used by the Hellenic Navy and Israeli Navy for EEZ protection near gas fields like the Aphrodite gas field.
Cyprus maintains a hybrid inventory mixing Soviet-era and Western systems acquired through bilateral deals with France, Israel, Russia, and Greece. Armored capabilities include MBTs and infantry fighting vehicles similar to BMP series, while artillery includes towed and self-propelled systems akin to M109 and multiple rocket launchers comparable to the BM-21 Grad. Air assets focus on rotary-wing platforms and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) for surveillance and force protection like models procured from Israel Aerospace Industries and other firms. Naval capabilities emphasize patrol, surveillance, and asymmetric defense using fast attack craft and missile boats resembling Karakurt-class corvette or older La Combattante-type vessels. Air defence and coastal anti-ship missiles form part of layered deterrence, with electronic warfare and intelligence assets developed through cooperation with France and Israel. Limitations include constrained power-projection, dependence on allied logistics from Greece and United Kingdom bases, and budgetary constraints tied to the Cypriot economy and public finance policy.
National service is compulsory for male citizens under conscription laws established post-1960; service terms and exemptions are governed by the Ministry of Defence (Cyprus) and parliamentary statutes. Training regimes emphasize conscript basic training, NCO development, officer cadet programs linked to academies such as the Hellenic Army Academy for exchange, and specialized courses run with partners including Greece, Israel, France, and NATO-associated militaries like units from the United Kingdom and United States. Joint exercises have included multiparty drills alongside Hellenic Armed Forces, bilateral maneuvers with Israel Defense Forces, and naval exercises coordinated with Royal Navy elements from the Akrotiri and Dhekelia bases to enhance readiness and interoperability.
Cyprus participates in international peace operations under the United Nations notably via UNFICYP, contributing personnel to multinational deployments and crisis response cadres. The Republic engages in bilateral defence cooperation agreements with Greece, France, Israel, and strategic dialogues with the United Kingdom while pursuing European defence integration through Common Security and Defence Policy mechanisms and participation in the EU Battlegroup concept. Military diplomacy includes intelligence-sharing on Eastern Mediterranean security, joint exercises with Hellenic Navy, counterterrorism training with Israel Defense Forces and interoperability work with NATO partners despite Cyprus not being a NATO member.
Cypriot defense policy centers on deterrence, territorial defense, and preservation of the status quo pending political settlement with the Turkish Cypriot administration and guarantor states. Strategic priorities include protection of territorial waters and exclusive economic zone rights near hydrocarbon fields such as Aphrodite gas field, enhancement of asymmetric capabilities, modernization through procurement from France and Israel, and reliance on strategic partnerships with Greece and diplomatic engagement via the United Nations and the European Union. National debates engage constitutional issues from the Treaty of Guarantee and balance issues of demilitarization proposals discussed in negotiations mediated by figures like Kofi Annan and organizations including the UN Security Council.