Greece has decided to keep four F-16 fighter jets and the frigate Nikiforos Fokas in Cyprus until further notice, in a move described as a direct response to escalating threats from Iran and growing tensions with Turkey.
The Greek Armed Forces’ decision comes as Ankara steps up its rhetoric over the deepening strategic relationship between Cyprus, Greece and Israel, while increasing its military presence in the Turkish-occupied northern part of Cyprus.
The four Greek F-16s are stationed at Andreas Papandreou Air Base in Paphos, while the Nikiforos Fokas has replaced the frigate Elli as Greece’s naval presence in the area.
Greece strengthens its presence in Cyprus
The decision to keep the Greek air and naval assets on the island indefinitely represents a significant adjustment to Greece’s defensive posture, according to the report.
The deployment comes as Cyprus adopts heightened security measures in response to what are described as asymmetric threats from Tehran in the wider Middle East.
At the same time, Turkey is seeking to use regional instability to advance what the report describes as its revisionist agenda.
Ankara has accused Cyprus of becoming an “advanced outpost of Israel” and Turkey’s Defense Ministry has said it is closely monitoring military and weapons-related developments in Greece and Cyprus.
F-16s provide air deterrence
The four F-16s stationed at Paphos provide Greece and Cyprus with additional air power and are intended to strengthen deterrence in the area.
According to the report, their presence also helps safeguard the Nicosia Flight Information Region (FIR) and sends a message to Ankara that any attempt to establish new facts in Cyprus’ airspace would face an immediate response.
The decision comes amid what the report characterizes as heightened military activity by Turkey in the occupied areas of Cyprus.
According to information cited from defense analysts, Ankara has been quietly strengthening its military infrastructure there, upgrading bases and transferring additional equipment.
Greek frigate equipped with anti-drone system
At sea, the Nikiforos Fokas has taken over from the Elli, strengthening Greece’s naval presence with upgraded operational capabilities.
The frigate is equipped with the Greek-made Centaur anti-drone system, designed to counter unmanned aerial vehicles, or UAVs.
The report highlights the system’s importance amid the extensive use of drones by both Iran and Turkey.
The Nikiforos Fokas recently participated in the multinational Cyprus Arrow exercise south of Limassol. Its presence is described as a counterweight to Turkish efforts to establish greater naval control over Cyprus’ exclusive economic zone.
Greek military chief makes emergency visit
The seriousness of the situation was underscored by an emergency visit to Cyprus by Gen. Dimitris Houpis, chief of Greece’s Armed Forces General Staff.
Houpis met with Lt. Gen. George Tsitsikostas, to coordinate their next steps in response to the two sets of threats.
During his visit, Houpis personally inspected the crews of the F-16s and the Nikiforos Fokas. He also visited units of the Hellenic Force in Cyprus, known by its Greek acronym EL.DY.K.
In his remarks to military personnel, Houpis praised their readiness and emphasized that Greece is putting into practice its doctrine of mutual defense assistance.
