Turkey’s defence ministry is closely monitoring developments regarding rumours of potential US military bases in Cyprus, warning it will take “necessary military and political measures” to protect Turkish Cypriot interests.
Defence ministry sources told Turkish media they are watching “any developments that could disrupt the balance on the island of Cyprus and threaten the security” of the occupied north.
“Turkey will continue taking necessary measures for Turkish Cypriots’ security, peace and prosperity under the Guarantee and Alliance Treaties, whatever the cost”, the ministry sources said, referring to potential foreign military presence on the island.
The Turkish newspaper Milliyet on Thursday wrote that the United States has expanded its military footprint in Greece during the Ukraine war and has established a significant presence in Cyprus during Israel’s wars in Gaza and Lebanon.
Milliyet highlighted what it describes as a notable increase in US bases across the Aegean and Mediterranean. It traced the development of US-Cyprus relations from the lifting of the arms embargo during Trump’s first presidential term to the defence agreement under President Joe Biden.
Milliyet quoted satellite imagery published by Sigma TVmedia showing American aircraft at Larnaca airport, including C-130 transport aircraft, CH-47 Chinook transport helicopters, and Bell UH-1 helicopters. The Andreas Papandreou airbase in Paphos has also received V-22 tilt-rotor aircraft.
(With information from CNA)
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