A military exercise with the participation of a frigate of the French Navy took place on Friday in the sea south of Larnaca, the ministry of defence said on Sunday.

The CYP/FRA-01/2022 exercise was part of the programme of Bilateral Defence Cooperation between Cyprus and France and was developed by the Cyprus National Guard General Staff Navy Force Command, in cooperation with the French Navy.

The open sea vessel Ioannides and the French frigate FS Provence participated in the exercise.

The exercise took place in the framework of the international cooperation which the National Guard has developed with the armed forces of friendly countries and allies, and is considered as particularly beneficial, as it provides the potential to the staff of the National Guard Navy Force to train with units of the French navy, promoting in this way interoperability and highlighting the excellent relations between the armed forces of Cyprus and France.