Cyprus-France conduct ‘Bold Wings’ military drill

The Cyprus National Guard and the French Armed Forces are conducting a small-scale special operations exercise entitled “BOLD WINGS – 2023” throughout the week.

The drill, which began on May 30, ends on June 15 and is taking place in Cyprus, attended by special operations personnel of the National Guard and the French armed forces.

A National Guard General Staff statement said the drill scenario includes various types of individual and group weapons shots, execution of free-fall jumps, training in combat First Aid, and execution of special operations within a residential area.

National Guard commander Lieutenant General Demokritos Zervakis attended part of the joint training in the presence of the Ambassador of France, Salina Grenet – Catalano.

He congratulated the special operations teams and pointed out the great importance of conducting joint training, both for increasing the level of cooperation and understanding between the two countries’ armed forces and for the region’s security and stability.

The exercise, part of the Bilateral Defence Cooperation Program between Cyprus and France, is considered to be particularly beneficial.

It provides the opportunity for the special operations unit of the National Guard to train with their French counterparts, advancing the level of training and interoperability and highlighting the excellent relations between the two armed forces.

Zervakis Tweeted: “This is an important cooperation, a valuable exchange of knowledge and experience, which strengthens the long-standing ties of friendship between the armed forces of Cyprus and France.”