Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Thursday cautioned against what he called the prospect a “lasting foreign military presence” on divided Cyprus, an ironic statement that raised eyebrows given that Turkey continues to illegally occupies roughly one-third of the island republic.
According to the Turkish outlet Daily Sabah, Erdogan said any foreign troop deployments linked to ongoing Middle East conflict should be temporary and not evolve into a “permanent presence”.
Speaking during a meeting with Turkish Cypriot leader Tufan Erhurman in Istanbul, he reiterated Ankara’s commitment to safeguarding the security and rights of Turkish Cypriots.
A view of the UN-guarded ‘green line’ on Cyprus separating the free, government-controlled areas in the south from the Turkish-occupied one-third of the island in the north.
Turkey set up a Turkish Cypriot pseudo-state in 1983 in the land it occupies on Cyprus since a military invasion in 1974.
Erdogan also reiterated Ankara’s readiness to defend the rights and security of Turkish Cypriots.
Cyprus, at least the free areas controlled by the internationally recognized government and two British sovereign bases, emerged since late Friday as a strategically sensitive location following Israeli and US airstrikes against Iran and renewed fighting in southern Lebanon.
International reports have repeatedly cited Cyprus’ growing importance as a transit and evacuation hub during crises, as well as its use in humanitarian and military coordination efforts, something that has irked Ankara intensely.
