The US Navy destroyer ship USS Oscar Austin returned to Cyprus on Tuesday, this time docking in Larnaca.

US Ambassador to Nicosia Julie Davis Fisher welcomed the ship's arrival, saying it stopped in Larnaca for a "port visit" before demonstrating its capabilities.

"Equipped with ballistic missiles, anti-submarine warfare and anti-surface warfare, Oscar Austin continues its mission to enhance security in the Mediterranean and beyond," she said.

The ship is named after Oscar Palmer Austin, a U.S. Marine who posthumously received his country's highest military award after sacrificing his own life during the Vietnam War by jumping on a grenade that landed near a wounded man and subsequently throwing himself between a Vietnamese gunner and the man.

The ship had previously visited Limassol in December as part of a “New Year port visit”.

The ship is one of a growing number of US Navy ships docking in Cyprus. The guided missile destroyer USS The Sullivans docked in Larnaca earlier this month for a "shore leave" - the US Navy's term for a stopover during which sailors can spend free time with their families.

The USS Oak Hill had previously stopped on the island several times, most recently at the end of October .

The ship had previously arrived in Cyprus for scheduled maintenance . Commander Jason Nowell had stated at the time that the Marines would conduct " routine bilateral training exercises" with the Cyprus National Guard in both Paphos and Larnaca.

In August, it took part in joint exercises with the USS Wasp and the Turkish Navy amphibious assault ship TCG Anadolu, as well as the Turkish Navy ship TCG Gokova .

The presence of the USS Wasp in Cyprus had also sparked controversy on the island. Akel accused the Cypriot government of dragging Cyprus into the center of extremely heightened tensions by agreeing to the " continued concentration of foreign forces on our island ."

The USS Wasp 's official social media page said at the time that the exercises were held "as a demonstration of ongoing cooperation and mutual commitment to maritime security."

Following these exercises, the USS Wasp docked in the Turkish Aegean city of Izmir, but this sparked controversy after two sailors from the ship were attacked by 15 people as they walked along Martyrs' Street in the center of the city.

In addition to deepening naval ties , Cyprus was also allowed to purchase military equipment directly from the US government last month after joining three programs run by the Cypriot Ministry of Defense.

The country has been accepted into the U.S. Defense and Security Cooperation Agency's Foreign Military Sales (FMS) program and the Defense Surplus Articles (EDA) program and receives funds under the U.S. Title 10 security assistance provisions.

By joining the FMS program, the government will also be able to purchase military equipment directly from the US government. Previously, the country was only allowed to purchase American military equipment from private companies.

According to the Cyprus Mail, bypassing private companies would allow the government to buy weapons and other equipment at cheaper prices than before . This is because the US government usually buys its equipment in bulk and can thus resell it at cheaper prices than private companies would offer to an army the size of the National Guard.

Source: CyprusMail.com

Author: Tom Cleaver