USS Mount Whitney, the flagship of the US 6th Fleet, which docked at Larnaca on Thursday, served as a platform on Friday to highlight Cyprus’ role in the eastern Mediterranean and reaffirm ties between the island and the United States.

A reception was held on board, where Defence Minister Vasilis Palmas, Commander of the 6th Fleet Vice Admiral Jeffrey Anderson, National Guard chief of staff Georgios Tsitsikostas and US ambassador Julie S Davis spoke of shared values and their vision for the future.

Palmas said the presence of the USS Mount Whitney in Cyprus was a clear reflection of the strong and growing partnership between the Republic of Cyprus and the United States.

He said the relationship between the two countries was at “an all-time high, built on trust, shared values and a common vision for security and stability in the eastern Mediterranean.” 

“Through joint training and the modernisation of our armed forces, we are actively enhancing our operational readiness and strengthening our role as a pillar of stability in the region,” Palmas said. 

The eastern Mediterranean, he added, faces evolving security challenges and Cyprus stands ready to work with its partners to promote stability.

“Our firm defence and security ties with the United States benefit not only our two nations, but also our allies throughout the region,” he said.

Palmas added that the presence of the USS Mount Whitney attests to this shared commitment.

“Looking ahead, our countries will continue to build on this momentum, ensuring that our partnership remains strong, our region remains secure and our people continue to benefit from a future of peace and prosperity.”

Vice Admiral Anderson said the US Navy was “thankful for our sustained relationship with Cyprus, the warmth and generosity of the people is readily apparent, as is the strength of the partnership.”

“A big thank you to the residents of Larnaca and the citizens of the Republic of Cyprus. Time after time, the city extends its hospitality to our ships and sailors as they operate safely and effectively in the eastern Mediterranean Sea, and our partnership has never been stronger,” he said.

The vice admiral said that “over the years, we have continued to deepen our shared concerns for maritime security, counter trafficking, disaster emergency response and non-combat evacuation, and we both have a vested interest in the security of the Mediterranean.”

“The economic prosperity of our nations and of this region will rely upon that advantage and we value the important role that the Republic of Cyprus plays in promoting regional security,” he added.

Tsitsikostas said that Cyprus, despite being a small country with limited resources, remained steadfast in its commitment to supporting security efforts that uphold international law, maritime conventions and regional security norms. 

“We have consistently demonstrated our readiness to assist in crises whether through hosting humanitarian operations or participating in EU maritime operations, such as the Aspides mission in the Red Sea or in multinational initiatives, like the East Mediterranean Coordinated Military Initiative (QUAD) since 2020,” he said.

He added that “we are playing a vital role in supporting the evacuation operations and acting as a safe hub in the area.”

“In addition, our role in the implementation of the Amalthea plan is also important, where together with the USA, the EU and other partners we provide humanitarian aid to those in need, Tsitsikostas said.

The chief of staff said that in this spirit of collaboration, Cyprus remains committed to strengthening its defence partnerships with like-minded allies.

“Therefore, in the field of defence cooperation, our ties with the United States have grown significantly. The recent signing of the Roadmap for Bilateral Defence Cooperation for 2024-2029, along with initiatives such as the Amalthea humanitarian operation, reflect our deepening partnership,” he said.

Tsitsikostas added that Cyprus and the US have set several key objectives to further advance collaboration, such as the continuation and strengthening of joint military exercises and training programme (IMET), the upgrading of cooperation between Cyprus’ National Guard and the New Jersey National Guard (SPP) and the enhancement of collaboration in military training.

Additionally, the opportunities provided for Cypriot cadets to train in US institutions further solidify defence ties, he said.

Tsitsikostas added that the presence of USS Mount Whitney in Cyprus “reaffirms the strong and enduring relations between our nations and armed forces and underscores that working together is the best way to confront today’s shared challenges and threats”. 

Davis said “our increased naval presence in the eastern Mediterranean and our enhanced cooperation with the National Guard of Cyprus both accelerated due to the increasing threats against American citizens and American interests emanating from Hamas, from Hezbollah, from the Houthis and from Iran.”

She added that President Nikos Christodoulides and his team have made Cyprus “a place of stability we can count on when needed.”

“Cyprus made its ports and its facilities available through the Amalthea plan to move thousands of tonnes of humanitarian aid in the area. In that context, Cyprus and task force 406 again worked together to provide security for the United States maritime assets delivering life-saving assistance,” Davis said.