Fact Sheet: The Cyprus Center for Land, Open-seas, and Port Security
- Over the past two years, the United States has built an increasingly fruitful security relationship with the Republic of Cyprus. Our two countries have been working to train teams from Mediterranean countries in a variety of security fields. This includes training events that the State Department’s Bureau of International Security and Nonproliferation (ISN) held in the Republic of Cyprus.
- To expand this cooperation and to support capacity-building for nations in the region, our two countries have agreed to construct a regional training hub in the Republic of Cyprus — the Cyprus Center for Land, Open-seas, and Port Security (CYCLOPS).
- CYCLOPS will allow the United States and our partners to provide enhanced technical assistance related to safety and security, including border security, customs and export controls, port and maritime security, and cybersecurity.
- The five million dollar training facility will include a number of different hands-on training platforms, including a mock land border crossing, passenger screening area, and a mobile cyber security training laboratory, which will enable regional partners to learn best practices for securing critical infrastructure and to engage in cross border, counterproliferation cyber investigations.
- CYCLOPS will support our efforts to curb the proliferation risks posed by malign regional actors and violent extremist organizations.
- The construction and ongoing support for CYCLOPS is a true partnership. The United States will construct the facility and provide equipment, trainers, and other capacity-building support, while the Republic of Cyprus will contribute land, facilitate travel, and provide trainers.
- The groundbreaking of CYCLOPS took place on January 4th, 2021 and official construction is expected to begin February 2021.