Camp Castle | |
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Part of Port of Limassol | |
Limassol, Cyprus in ![]() | |
![]() Maritime task force of UNIFIL in Limassol (Cyprus). In the center the German auxiliary vessel Mosel (A512), at the left the German fast attack craft S75 Zobel (P6125) and the Greek fast attack craft Mykonios (P23). At the right patrol boats of the Lebanese Navy can be seen. | |
Coordinates | 34°38′59.7″N33°1′18.1″E / 34.649917°N 33.021694°E |
Site information | |
Owner | ![]() |
Operator | ![]() |
Site history | |
In use | 2006 - present |
Camp Castle is a naval base of the German Navy (Now under the auspices of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon) located within the Port of Limassol in Cyprus. [1]
The base began operations in 2006 and primarily serves the German Navy and its efforts in the UNIFIL operation in Lebanon after an agreement was made between with the Republic of Cyprus although other nations part of the same operation have docked their ships on base too. [2] [3]
Since 2020, the base has increased in significance and has been made a UN base due to the aftermath of the 2020 Beirut explosion and the inability to use it as a result. [4]
In October 2022, the Defense Commissioner of the Bundestag visited the base. [5]
The German Navy is the navy of Germany and part of the unified Bundeswehr, the German Armed Forces. The German Navy was originally known as the Bundesmarine from 1956 to 1995, when Deutsche Marine became the official name with respect to the 1990 incorporation of the East German Volksmarine. It is deeply integrated into the NATO alliance. Its primary mission is protection of Germany's territorial waters and maritime infrastructure as well as sea lines of communication. Apart from this, the German Navy participates in peacekeeping operations, and renders humanitarian assistance and disaster relief. It also participates in anti-piracy operations.
The United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon, or UNIFIL, is a UN peacekeeping mission established on 19 March 1978 by United Nations Security Council Resolutions 425 and 426, to confirm Israeli withdrawal from Lebanon which Israel had invaded five days prior, in order to ensure that the government of Lebanon would restore its effective authority in the area. The 1978 South Lebanon conflict came in the context of Palestinian insurgency in South Lebanon and the Lebanese Civil War.
The Aegean dispute is a set of interrelated controversies between Greece and Turkey over sovereignty and related rights in the region of the Aegean Sea. This set of conflicts has strongly affected Greek-Turkish relations since the 1970s, and has twice led to crises coming close to the outbreak of military hostilities, in 1987 and in early 1996. The issues in the Aegean fall into several categories:
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The Lebanese Navy is the navy of the Lebanese Armed Forces. It was formed in 1950 and based in Beirut Naval Base, Lebanon's first naval base. The navy, which currently lacks the proper amount of equipment, has a number of approximately 69 vessels of various sizes and roles; however, the navy is trying to modernize itself, and increase its size. The flag of the Lebanese navy depicts a Phoenician ship with the Lebanese Cedar tree, positioned on an anchor above the Arabic inscription of the navy's name.
The Hellenic Force in Cyprus, commonly known in its abbreviated form as ELDYK or EL.DY.K. is the permanent, regiment-sized Greek military force stationed in the Republic of Cyprus. Its role is to help and support the Cypriot National Guard. Soldiers are selected from the ranks of conscripts doing their military service in the Greek army.
The Cyprus Emergency was a conflict fought in British Cyprus between November 1955 and March 1959.
The Naval Protection Force was a marine unit of the German Navy. It had the size of a battalion and was part of the 1st Flotilla. It was established on April 1, 2005, but traces its roots back to 1958, when the so-called Sea battalion (Seebataillon) was activated. Its headquarters was in Eckernförde on the Baltic Sea. Next to the Naval Special Deployment Force, the Naval Protection Force were considered to be a marine element within the German Navy.
Fotis Papoulis is a retired professional footballer who last played for Omonia in the Cypriot First Division. Born in Greece, he played for the Cyprus national team.
Panagiotis Ballas is a Greek professional footballer who plays as a defensive midfielder for Super League 2 club Egaleo.
BNS Bijoy is a Castle-class guided missile corvette of the Bangladesh Navy. She has been serving in the Bangladesh Navy since 2011.
The Central Intelligence Service is the intelligence-gathering body of Cyprus. It was reorganised and given official status by a 14 April 2016 Parliamentary bill. The CIS was initially founded in 1970 by President Archbishop Makarios. The new Independent Authority was renamed "Cyprus Intelligence Service" and is responsible for internal and external national security, i.e. a Cypriot combination of MI5 and MI6.
Turkey and the Government of National Accord (GNA) of Libya signed a Maritime Boundary Treaty in order to establish an Exclusive economic zone in the Mediterranean Sea, which meant that they could claim rights to seabed resources. However, fears were expressed that the agreement may fuel an "energy showdown" in this region, because it was highly contentious.
Military bases on the island of Cyprus:
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F Independência (F-44) is a Niterói-class frigate of the Brazilian Navy. The Independência was the fifth ship of her class ordered by the Brazilian Navy, on 20 September 1970. The Independência was launched on 2 September 1974, and was commissioned on 3 September 1979.
F União (F-45) is a Niterói-class frigate of the Brazilian Navy. The União was the sixth ship of her class ordered by the Brazilian Navy, on 20 September 1970. The União was launched on 14 March 1975, and was commissioned on 12 September 1980.
The Mobile Immediate Action Unit is a unit of the Cyprus Police, the national police of the Republic of Cyprus. The mission and responsibilities of the Emergency Response Unit are closely interwoven with the security of the State, the maintenance of law and order, and the provision of help and services to the public. The unit's mission is to address and suppress any terrorist, criminal, or other illegal activity against the State or the public throughout the territory of the Republic, including within its Exclusive Economic Zone (E.E.Z.).
The Special Forces Command is a combat arm of the Cypriot National Guard. The primary mission of the Special Forces is unorthodox warfare and this is the purpose for which they began their training in 1964, primarily in the Troodos Mountains, while shortly after, he began operations against Turkish Cypriot rebels and the Turkish forces operating on the island.