The Italian Navy missile frigate Federico Martinengo has arrived in Cyprus’s maritime area, Italian authorities announced.
The vessel departed from the Italian port of Taranto last Friday and is crewed by more than 160 men and women of the Italian Navy.
The French aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle is also operating in the area.
The deployment is part of an initiative in support of Cyprus’s protection, undertaken by Italy in coordination with France, Spain, and the Netherlands.
The Martinengo previously completed a deployment with the EU’s EUNAVFOR Aspides operation in the Red Sea, where it was tasked with protecting commercial shipping from Houthi threats, before returning to its home base at Taranto.