Cypriot National Guard

Cypriot National Guard
Greek: Εθνική Φρουρά
Emblem of the National Guard of Cyprus
Flag of the National Guard General Staff
Motto	Αμύνεσθαι περί πάτρης (Defend the Homeland)
Founded	15 June 1964
Service branches	Cypriot Ground Forces Cyprus Air Force  Cyprus Navy
Headquarters	Nicosia, Cyprus
Website	Official Website
Leadership
Minister of Defence	Vasilis Palmas
Chief of the Cypriot National Guard	Lieutenant General Giorgios Tsitsikostas
Personnel
Military age	18 years old
Conscription	14 months
Active personnel	12,000[1]
Reserve personnel	50,000[1]
Expenditure
Budget	€ 553 Million
Percent of GDP	2.0%
Industry
Foreign suppliers	Egypt  France  Brazil  Greece  Germany  Israel  Serbia  Belgium  United Kingdom
Related articles
Ranks	Cyprus military ranks

The National Guard of Cyprus (Greek: Εθνική Φρουρά), also known as the Greek Cypriot National Guard or simply National Guard, is the military force of the Republic of Cyprus. This force consists of air, land, sea and special forces elements, and is highly integrated with its first and second line reserves, as well as supporting civilian agencies and paramilitary forces.

The mission of the National Guard is to take all necessary measures for the defense of the Republic of Cyprus for the purpose of dealing with a threatened invasion or any action directed against the independence or territorial integrity of the Republic or threatening to secure the life or property of citizens of the Republic.^[2] The main threat to Cyprus comes from the presence of 40,000 Turkish troops stationed in Northern Cyprus.^[3]

Greece currently maintains a garrison of 950 men in the Republic of Cyprus under the designation Hellenic Force in Cyprus (ELDYK), but this is not officially part of the Cyprus military and mostly takes orders from Greece's Hellenic Army General Staff.^[4]