Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether his Department has taken recent steps to increase the number of joint training exercises between the British and Cypriot armed forces.

The UK Armed Forces and the Cypriot Armed Forces have a long-standing and fruitful bilateral defence relationship. The UK regularly participates in joint exercises with the Cypriot Armed Forces, including Ex APHRODITE SHIELD earlier this year and annual participation in Ex ARGONAUT, Ex NEMESIS and Ex CAMBRIAN PATROL.

Our Armed Forces' participation in joint exercises with the Cypriot Armed Forces is driven through the Bilateral Defence Cooperation Programme (BDCP). First signed in 2016, and reviewed at annual Staff Talks, the implementation of the BDCP has resulted in the growth of our bilateral defence relationship with the Republic of Cyprus. We continue to explore opportunities to deepen our co-operation across the breath of defence, including through joint training exercises.