Cyprus independence parade displays Greek F-16s, allied troops and new weapons

Cyprus marked the 66th anniversary of the republic’s independence on October 1 with a military parade in Nicosia that brought together the National Guard’s newer equipment, Greek F-16 aircraft and personnel from partner countries. The ceremony also gave a prominent place to the enduring division of the island and the relationship between Greece and Cyprus.

President Nikos Christodoulides took the salute in Strovolos. Cyprus Defence Minister Vasilis Palmas was joined by Greek National Defence Minister Nikos Dendias, National Guard chief Lieutenant General Emmanouil Theodorou and Greece’s chief of defence, General Dimitrios Houpis. The parade featured the National Guard, other Cypriot state services and foreign military representatives.

Greek aircraft and forces in Nicosia

The Greek flypast was one of the most visible moments of the day. The two fighters crossed the sky above Nicosia as Greece’s defence minister and senior military leadership watched the ceremony. The aerial presence and the Greek contingent on the ground put the connection between the two countries in view of the public. Dendias said Greece would remain beside Cypriot Hellenism, placing the ceremony in the context of the island’s security and the continuing division following Turkey’s 1974 invasion.

Two Hellenic Air Force F-16s passed over the parade route. Greek participation on the ground included units of the Hellenic Force in Cyprus, or ELDYK, and Hummer, Leonidas armoured personnel carrier and M106 vehicles. The Greek Defence Ministry’s account of the October 1 events confirms the flypast, the Greek contingent and the attendance of senior officials.

After the parade, Dendias said Greece would always stand beside the Republic of Cyprus. He described the republic as an independent, democratic and sovereign European state while also recalling the consequences of the 1974 invasion and continuing occupation. His statement linked freedom and sovereignty to defence capability and deterrence. The presence of Greek aircraft over Nicosia and ELDYK units on the avenue made that message visible during the anniversary itself.

The Greek minister also met Christodoulides at the Presidential Palace and joined him in laying a wreath at the statue of Archbishop Makarios III. The Hellenic Navy frigate Nikiforos Fokas was in Larnaca for the commemoration and open to visitors, according to the Greek ministry.

Air defence, coastal weapons and unmanned systems

On the parade route, Cyprus presented the Barak MX air defence system to the public. The display drew attention to the National Guard’s efforts to strengthen protection against aircraft and other aerial threats. The presentation also included coastal Exocet MM40 Block 3C missiles, underscoring the island’s maritime defence priorities.

The coastal Exocet display and the unmanned craft had particular resonance for an island in the Eastern Mediterranean. The parade also showed Spike LR2 antitank systems on ENOK AB vehicles and the Akeron MP on Sherpa vehicles. These platforms appeared alongside the air defence equipment, giving the public a view of the National Guard’s land, maritime and aerial systems.

Several Cypriot unmanned platforms appeared alongside the larger systems. They included the B5 Hydra and the USV540 Evagoras surface vessels, as well as Poseidon H10 aircraft and vehicles configured to support small FPV drones. The equipment on display covered both the operation of unmanned craft and their technical support. Four National Guard H145M helicopters flew in formation, and an Egyptian military transport aircraft also took part in the air programme.

The FPV display included operators, aircraft and a mobile workshop intended for construction, adaptation and technical support. The range of equipment showed how small unmanned systems have become a visible part of the National Guard’s programme. The Egyptian C295 transport aircraft and a formation of four H145M helicopters added to the aerial element of the event.

Personnel from the United States, France, Britain and Egypt added an international dimension to the parade. Their presence followed years of expanding defence contacts involving Cyprus and its partners. Earlier Greek-Cypriot defence cooperation has included discussions about armaments and industrial ties.

Military personnel from Greece, Egypt, France, the United States and the United Kingdom were present in Nicosia. Christodoulides linked their participation to Cyprus’s defence partnerships and the republic’s international position. Those contingents appeared alongside Cypriot forces and equipment on the avenue.

Christodoulides said the participation of foreign forces reflected those partnerships and Cyprus’s international standing. He also spoke of continued efforts for the liberation and reunification of the island. The anniversary took place in a capital that remains divided more than five decades after Turkey’s 1974 invasion, giving the military display a political meaning beyond the equipment presented.

A divided island marks independence

The National Guard’s display took place on the 66th anniversary of the republic’s independence. The date also carries the memory of 1974 and the continuing division of Cyprus. Greek and Cypriot flags, ELDYK troops and the National Guard occupied more than ceremonial space in the original photo report. Families displaced from the north and communities still awaiting a settlement are part of the context in which the parade is seen.

The National Guard chief’s anniversary order referred to the 1955–1959 struggle and the duty to maintain capable armed forces. Christodoulides said Cyprus would not retire from the effort to liberate and reunify the country. The parade ended with Greek and Cypriot forces marching in the capital of a republic whose independence anniversary remains inseparable from the unresolved division of the island.