Kyrenia, Cyprus. The Turkish Kilic class corvette TCG Imbat and the naval submarine TCG Gur are due to sail to Cyprus this week for celebrations in the north marking Turkey’s national sovereignty and children’s day. Both vessels are scheduled to open to the public during set hours on Thursday before departing.
Port calls and public visiting hours
According to the Turkish Cypriot security forces command, the TCG Imbat will dock in Kyrenia and be open to visitors from 10am to 12pm and from 2pm to 5pm on Thursday.
The TCG Gur will dock in Famagusta and will also be open to the public from 10am to 12pm and from 2pm to 5pm on Thursday.
Both vessels are expected to depart after the visiting period.
Context and statements on military assets
The deployment was described as unrelated to the recent arrivals of naval or aerial assets to Cyprus and its vicinity after the island was hit by an Iranian-made drone last month, when Greece, France, Italy, Spain, the Netherlands, Turkey, and the United Kingdom deployed assets.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said last week that the deployed assets “need to not be permanent,” echoing comments by Turkish Cypriot leader Tufan Erhurman.
“I do not think that the military assets which have come here will be permanent, and I am saying very clearly that they should not be,” he told Turkey’s Anadolu Agency last month.
He added that with an array of military assets arriving in Cyprus, “you actually do not feel secure”.
What do you think about the public opening of the visiting vessels in Kyrenia and Famagusta?
