Cypriot federation in UK warns UK-Turkey defence contract may breach export criteria and guarantor duties
London, United Kingdom. The National Federation of Cypriots in the United Kingdom has written to Defence Minister John Healey warning that a recently signed multi-billion training and support contract between London and Ankara may violate UK Strategic Export Licence Criteria and Britain’s obligations as a guarantor power.
The Federation said the contract is part of a broader October 2025 agreement covering the sale of Eurofighter Typhoon combat aircraft to Turkey and raised concerns about potential impacts on security, human rights and stability in the Eastern Mediterranean.
Concerns over security and stability
In its letter, the Federation said the cooperation could breach criteria governing security, human rights and regional stability. It pointed to Turkey’s continuing military presence in the occupied north, repeated violations of Cyprus’s airspace and territorial waters, and the recent deployment of Turkish F-16s in occupied north Cyprus.
The Federation also cited hundreds of airspace violations recorded in 2025, arguing that supplying Turkey with advanced combat aircraft creates serious risks to Cyprus’s security.
References to UN resolutions and guarantor obligations
Invoking UN Security Council Resolutions 550 and 541 and the 1960 Treaty of Guarantee, the Federation said the United Kingdom, as a guarantor power, is legally and morally prohibited from facilitating actions that could lead to the partition or annexation of Cyprus.
It warned that selling and supporting advanced fighter jets without strict conditions could place the UK in direct breach of these obligations.
Human rights issues raised
The letter also raised human rights concerns, citing Turkey’s denial of the right of return for refugees and the restriction of religious and political freedoms in the occupied areas.
Calls for assurances and commitments
The Federation called on the British government to provide clear assurances that any military equipment sold to Turkey will not be used to perpetuate the occupation or strengthen Turkey’s military presence in Cyprus.
It also asked London to clarify whether it has secured commitments from Ankara that the weapons systems will not be deployed in actions that violate international law. The Federation said recent British statements of support for Cyprus must be backed by concrete policies and binding commitments.
What assurances should the UK government provide about how military equipment sold to Turkey will be used?
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Türkiye and the UK do very-well continue to fulfill their commitments as a guarantor countries of Cyprus. The Republic of Cyprus, which tries to enjoy as the sole-owner of the island of Cyprus needs to (and has to) agree and ensure the rights of Turkish Cypriots in the south of island as the (southern side of Cyprus) already knows that this isn’t only thing that they need not to do and that’s the reality of rejection to give the rights of Turkish Cypriots, the northern side of Cyprus (or Turkish-occupied of Cyprus) wants to be kept away from the Republic of Cyprus.
With these reasons and that’s why Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) which backed from Türkiye and originally didn’t belong to Republic of Cyprus want to remain away for the government and Greek-controlled part of Republic of Cyprus, which is also part of the European Union.