Turkey has expressed strong disapproval of the recent agreement between the United States and the Republic of Cyprus to enhance defense cooperation. This development comes as the United Nations continues its efforts to mediate stalled negotiations between the Greek and Turkish Cypriot communities on the divided island of Cyprus.
The Turkish Foreign Ministry has criticized the U.S. for taking steps that it claims undermine the security of the Turkish Cypriot community. According to the ministry, the agreement, including the recent strategic dialogue initiated last June, disrupts the U.S.'s neutral stance on Cyprus and complicates efforts to achieve a fair and lasting resolution to the Cyprus issue.
The cooperation roadmap was officially signed in Nicosia on Monday, with defense ministries from both countries emphasizing their commitment to addressing international security challenges together.
Cyprus has been divided since 1974, following a Turkish military intervention in response to a brief coup attempt by Greek Cypriots. Peace talks have been stalled since 2017. The Turkish Cypriot community administers a self-declared state in the north of the island, recognized only by Turkey. They insist that any progress in talks must include acknowledgment of their equal sovereignty alongside the Greek Cypriot government.
The Turkish Cypriot side governs a self-declared, breakaway state in the northern part of Cyprus, which remains recognized only by Turkey. This region was established following the Turkish military intervention in 1974. For the Turkish Cypriots, the resumption of peace talks with the Greek Cypriot administration is contingent upon the formal acknowledgment of their equal sovereignty. They insist that any meaningful negotiations must address and validate their status as an equal entity alongside the Greek Cypriot government, rather than merely as a subordinate or separate administrative unit. This stance reflects their demand for a balanced resolution that recognizes their political and territorial claims on the island.
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