The “Cyprus Centre for Land, Open Seas and Port Security” (CYCLOPS) is a Republic of Cyprus-owned training facility situated in Larnaca.
The project was established in close cooperation with the Government of the United States of America (USA), as provided for by a Memorandum of Understanding between the Republic of Cyprus and the USA, signed on September 12, 2020.
Funding for the construction and technical equipment of the CYCLOPS Training Center was provided by the US State Department’s Export Control and Related Border Security (EXBS) programme, while the Republic of Cyprus provided the land for its construction, and took ownership and responsibility of the facility via the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, once construction work was completed on 28 February 2022. CYCLOPS was inaugurated on 6 April 2022.
The objective of this state-of-the art Training Facility is to bolster security capacity-building in Cyprus, the EU, the wider Eastern Mediterranean region, and beyond.
Taking into consideration evolving security goals and challenges facing the international community, CYCLOPS cooperates with international partners in offering training in various areas related to non-military security and safety, including customs and exports control, port and maritime security, CBRN-E, and cybersecurity.
The Centre has a modular structure, incorporating an already-existing American model for trainings in the aforementioned areas. In making use of the state-of-the-art facilities and equipment, including a cybersecurity mobile lab in Nicosia, CYCLOPS provides the required skills and capabilities, in addressing security related challenges in a holistic approach.
The trainings follow the “Train the Trainers” model, enabling Cypriots to become trainers themselves, and officials from partner countries to become trainers of the different programs in their home countries. Hence, via CYCLOPS, Cyprus contributes to the establishment of a network of skilled security practitioners, promoting and circulating the acquired know-how and expertise.
Currently, the Centre has established partnerships with US agencies, as well as with the Global Maritime Crime Programme (GMCP) and the Container Control Programme (CCP) of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC). Since its inauguration, CYCLOPS has facilitated various training programmes offered by these partners to officials from Cyprus, Egypt, Lebanon, Jordan, Iraq, Libya, Morocco and Tunisia.
