An air and naval exercise with the participation of units from the armed forces of the four countries took place on Friday in the sea area south of the city of Larnaca. The General Staff of the National Guard of Cyprus announced this, TASS reports.
“Within the framework of the Quartet Initiative (QUAD Initiative), the Republic of Cyprus, Greece, France and Italy today held a small-scale aviation exercise PASSEX with the participation of ships and aircraft of four countries,” the statement reads.
The French frigate Auvergne, the Greek frigate Kountouriotis, the Italian destroyer Andrea Doria and the Cypriot patrol ship Alasia took part in the maneuvers. Among the aircraft involved in the exercises were, in particular, the AW-139 multipurpose helicopters used by the search and rescue unit of the Cypriot National Guard. The latter interacted with the frigate Auvergne, practicing the landing technique on the frigate's helipad, and performed other tasks.
“The conduct of this exercise, as well as a number of other Quartet Initiative maneuvers such as EVNOMIA-2021, demonstrates the collective commitment of the four countries to maintain an aviation presence in the eastern Mediterranean to ensure compliance with the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea, maintain security and stability, as well as protection of freedom of navigation,” the General Staff od Cyprus explained.
