Nicosia:The NEMESIS 2026 multinational exercise has concluded within Cyprus' exclusive economic zone, involving eight countries and over 15 public services of the Republic. The exercise focused on emergency response scenarios on a hydrocarbon extraction platform, maritime security, and the protection of critical infrastructure.
According to Cyprus News Agency, the participating nations were Cyprus, Greece, France, the UK, the US, Israel, Italy, and Egypt. High-profile attendees included Cyprus' Minister of Defence Vassilis Palmas, Ministers of Justice Costas Fytiris, Agriculture Christos Senekis, Deputy Minister of Migration Nicholas Ioannides, and ambassadors from the participating countries, who observed the exercise from the "Evangelos Florakis" Naval Base in Mari.
The exercise aimed to prepare state agencies for emergencies related to the Republic's energy program. Scenarios included responding to a terrorist act on a hydrocarbon platform, boarding suspicious vessels, extracting and evacuating injured personnel, conducting mass rescue operations, and managing marine pollution. A Greek F-16 fighter jet was also involved in the exercise.
The Joint Rescue Coordination Center (JRCC) led the exercise's planning and execution in collaboration with the Deputy Ministry of Shipping, the National Guard, the Cyprus Police, and the Department of Fisheries and Marine Research. Minister Palmas emphasized the importance of maritime security, Cyprus' sovereign rights, and international cooperation in the Eastern Mediterranean, noting the exercise's role in assessing operational capabilities and enhancing coordination among participants.
Minister Senekis highlighted the significance of international cooperation for environmental crisis management and the protection of marine and coastal areas in the region. He mentioned Cyprus' investment in specialized maritime assets for marine pollution incident response and the trilateral cooperation between Cyprus, Greece, and Israel.
Chief of the National Guard, Lieutenant General Emmanouel Theodorou, discussed the vital role of coordination among the National Guard, state agencies, and friendly nations' armed forces in maritime crisis management. He noted the exercise's opportunity to evaluate operational capabilities and enhance cooperation among air and naval assets.
JRCC Commander Yiorgos Economou underlined the exercise's significance in the context of Cyprus' resuming drilling program within its exclusive economic zone, emphasizing coordination and cooperation at national and international levels to support hydrocarbon exploration and strengthen energy security.