Antalya, Turkey. Turkish Cypriot “foreign minister” Tahsin Ertugruloglu said Cyprus has long been part of Israel’s “promised land” concept and linked this to closer relations between Israel and the Greek Cypriot administration.
Claims on Israel-Cyprus relations and military activity
Speaking at the Antalya diplomacy forum on Friday, Ertugruloglu said Israel and “southern Cyprus” share an approach of “liberating Cyprus from Turkey,” and said recent military activity in southern Cyprus should be interpreted within this context.
Deployments following last month’s drone strike
He referred to deployments after Cyprus was hit by an Iranian-made drone last month, when Greece, France, Italy, Spain, the Netherlands, and the United Kingdom deployed naval or aerial assets to the island and its vicinity.
Exercises and defence agreements
Ertugruloglu said “southern Cyprus has pretty much turned itself into a military headquarters,” and highlighted joint training exercises by the National Guard and the United States’ military, as well as defence-sector agreements signed by the Republic of Cyprus and the State of Israel.
Turkey’s response and claims on deterrence
He said the military balance on the island has not been disrupted, adding that Turkey has taken precautions and that the deterrent effect created by the Turkish armed forces since 1974 is continuing. Turkey deployed six F-16 fighter jets and Hisar-A surface-to-air missiles to the island after last month’s drone strike.
Comments on risks and regional interests
Ertugruloglu said any military action by “southern Cyprus” against the TRNC would be suicidal and that the Greek Cypriot side has no chance of acting alone. He said the eastern Mediterranean has become an area of interest for major powers due to energy, water resources and its strategic location, and said the Turkish Cypriot side, together with Turkey, is waging a fight for its rights and security in the region.
British bases and security concerns
He said the TRNC has not become a direct military target due to policies pursued by Turkey, and argued that southern Cyprus is at risk due to the British bases and their use by the United States and the United Kingdom.
What do you consider the most significant factor shaping security on the island of Cyprus?