New regional security centre in Cyprus serves eastern Mediterranean

LARNACA -- A number of Middle Eastern countries have shown "strong interest" in sending personnel for training at a US-funded security training facility for the eastern Mediterranean that opened Wednesday (April 6) in Cyprus.

The high-tech training facility, known as the Cyprus Centre for Land, Open-seas, and Port Security (CYCLOPS), was inaugurated during a ceremony on the Mediterranean island.

Senior US State Department official Victoria Nuland attended the official opening, which Cypriot Foreign Minister Ioannis Kasoulides described as "the crown of our security co-operation".

"Our aspiration is that the CYCLOPS training centre becomes a regional centre of excellence for specialised training in all security-related fields," Kasoulides said, hailing "blossoming co-operation with the United States".

Nuland said the two seek to share the vision of a prosperous and peaceful Mediterranean with other partners in the region, "and we want them to join us in building capacity and spreading knowledge and learning together".

Regional security

In addition to Middle Eastern countries including Egypt, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Jordan, Oman and Israel, a number of European Union (EU) member states have shown interest in training their officials at the new centre.

Training topics will include customs checks and cybersecurity threats.

Construction of the complex in the port town of Larnaca was envisaged in a deal signed with the United States in September 2020.

CYCLOPS allows the United States to provide technical assistance related to security and safety, including customs and exports control, port and maritime security and cybersecurity.

Nuland said CYCLOPS "is about peace... it is about a region that is one of peace, is one of security and we are working hard together as partners to restore that, to build on it, to grow it".

Cyprus said it was selected because it lies at the EU's southeastern tip and has good relations with Middle East countries including Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon and Israel.

The new facility provides training platforms, including a mock land border crossing, a passenger screening area and a mobile cybersecurity training lab.

The United States, which is providing equipment and expert training, has seen its relationship with Cyprus improve in recent years.

"Over the last eight years, we have seen the transformation of this partnership through tangible action, particularly in our security co-operation," Kasoulides said.

"We firmly believe this to be an irreversible process, with further, great potential."