The Turkish newspaper Milliyet has expressed concern over the increasing American military presence in Cyprus and Greece in its main story Thursday.
The newspaper reports 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.
The publication highlights what it describes as a notable increase in US bases across the Aegean and Mediterranean. It traces 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.
The daily cites Cypriot reports regarding the construction of a helicopter base adjacent to the Evangelos Florakis Naval Base in Mari, which it describes as “a former Turkish village”. The report notes that the port cannot accommodate large vessels, leading to Greek Cypriot plans for its expansion.
(With information from CNA)
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