U.S. Naval Facility Nicosia, Cyprus

The U.S. Naval Facility Nicosia, Cyprus, was established in the late 1960s as part of the United States’ effort to enhance its surveillance and communication capabilities in the Eastern Mediterranean during the Cold War. Operated primarily by the U.S. Navy, the facility played a key role in naval intelligence gathering and underwater surveillance, supporting both U.S. and NATO operations in the region. Due to increasing regional tensions and the 1974 Turkish invasion of Cyprus, the facility’s operations became untenable, leading to its closure and evacuation shortly thereafter. Despite its brief operational period, the Nicosia facility contributed significantly to U.S. maritime situational awareness in a strategically critical area.