Nicosia, Cyprus. Turkish Cypriot leader Tufan Erhurman said the buildup of foreign military assets in and around Cyprus should not become permanent. He made the remarks in comments to Turkey’s Anadolu Agency on Thursday.
Concerns over foreign deployments
Erhurman said he did not think the military assets that had arrived would be permanent and said they should not be. Greece, France, Italy, Spain, the Netherlands, Turkey, and the United Kingdom have deployed naval or aerial assets to Cyprus and its vicinity in recent weeks after the island was hit by an Iranian-made drone.
He said the British were already present because of the bases, and that after the drone strike the French aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle arrived and ships came from the Netherlands and other countries.
Erhurman said such arrivals would be reported in the foreign press and could create a perception that the region is unsafe. He added that with a range of military assets arriving in Cyprus, “you actually do not feel secure”.
Criticism of ties with Israel
Erhurman criticised the Republic of Cyprus’ decision to strengthen its ties with Israel in recent years, referring to efforts to form an alliance between Israel, Greece, and southern Cyprus. He said Israel is one of the main actors in the war and that portraying Israel as an ally and partner raises questions about the source of security concerns.
He said the “Greek Cypriot administration” must abandon what he described as an “adventurous stance” and face realities. He added that if southern Cyprus continues to see itself as a very special actor in the region, it will continue to face very great risks.
Bases and military agreements
Erhurman said that while the British bases have recently come to the forefront, the Republic of Cyprus’ own military alliances and the perceived risks they entail must also be highlighted.
He said the existence of the Andreas Papandreou airbase in Paphos and military agreements and alliances linked to that base should not be ignored, noting that the United States has been involved in discussions regarding upgrades to the airbase in recent months.
What do you think should be the role of foreign military deployments around Cyprus in the current security environment?
