By Yunus Soner
The United States is deepening its relations to the Greek Cypriot Administration that claims to represent the entire island and governs the southern part. First, Washington lifted an old weapons embargo against it, followed by a defense cooperation agreement. As the latest step, President Joe Biden received in Washington Nikos Christodoulides, president of the southern republic. Its foreign minister Kombos emphasized that the last meeting of a US President and a President from the Greek Cypriot administration dated from 1996.
We spoke to Prof. Hüseyin Işıksal, who is the special adviser of the presidency of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus. Işıksal is also member of the negotiation delegation on the island’s future.
Thank you very much again for taking the time. I want to start with the following question: The United States signed a defense cooperation roadmap with the Greek Republic of Southern Cyprus on September 10. How do you evaluate this?
I have written several articles on this topic. This is a topic with a history, not a new one. Especially with the election of Nikos Christodoulides as the leader of the Greek Cypriot people, there has been an extraordinary rapid development between the Greek Cypriot Administration of Southern Cyprus and the United States.
In 2022, the US lifted the arms embargo on Southern Cyprus, which it had imposed for 35 years. Of course, they didn’t remove it out of the blue. In return, the Greek Cypriot side pledged to adhere to all US strategic plans in the region. Other agreements followed. There were various agreements such as the International Military Training Agreement, in which the two Greek Cypriot armies would serve in the United States, then joint exercises in which Israel was involved, and then the anchoring of American ships in Greek ports. Lastly, as you mentioned, followed on September 10 this last agreement.
Of course, these moves have both increased the risk of the Greek Cypriot side being involved in the war in the region, but even worse, the security of the Turkish Cypriot people and Türkiye has actually become kind of threatened.
I wrote an article about it. The Greek Cypriot side, that is, the Greek Cypriots, have a slogan that is hollow. It says they are “part of the solution, not the problems in the region”. However, the Greek Cypriot side continues to be a part of the problem.
Rightly so, there have been justified reactions to this issue from both the Republic of Türkiye and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus accused the United States of being a party to the conflict. The Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs gave its full support and asked it to refrain from harming the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus and the future in the region.
Basically, if you ask what this agreement is, I will summarize it as follows; First, we can say that Israel’s security is America’s top priority in its foreign policy, and the United States is trying to give it a legitimate basis. In its interventions in the Middle East, it uses British bases, although it does not openly declare it.
With these agreements with the Greek Cypriot side, whether it is Greek Cypriot airspace or military sites, it will now get a legitimate basis for aid and interventions to Israel. The US also uses the Greeks for this. The Greek Cypriot side will be used effectively by the United States due to its logistical position in many points such as reducing the effectiveness of both Russia and China in the region, safely transporting hytocarbon resources, and protecting friendly regimes.
Of course, when you look at the Greek Cypriot side, this is something that has been happening for centuries. Academically, we can say that the Greek Cypriot and Greek foreign policy, since the day Greece gained its independence, has been a policy of ‘relying on whatever the foreign power is’. It has a policy of reliance on the United States, which is currently the most powerful country in the region. As you know, Greece gave many military bases to the United States in Greece.
Again, Southern Cyprus applies the same policy. With the help of the United States, they think that they will both end the existence of the TRNC and exert pressure on Türkiye both in terms of economy, politics and diplomacy.
We understand this from the following: There is the “Great Sea Interconnector project”, which they call the Great Sea Connection. This is actually a very difficult project. It is impossible to work, neither financially nor structurally. Considering the geological structure and its cost from a political point of view, it is a project that will bring Türkiye and Greece face to face. Because the region where that cable will pass coincides exactly with the agreement declared by Türkiye and with Libya.
Knowing this, the U.S. supports the Greek Cypriot side in this regard. This should also be read from this perspective. In other words, as a result of the Greek Cypriots’ acceptance of America’s hegemony and policy follows the support they get from the US.
To sum up, these one-sided and, in my opinion, irresponsible moves will inevitably lead to bigger problems. When you arm the south, it will naturally become necessary to take security measures in the north of the island.
Likewise, the President of the Turkish Republic of Cyprus and Türkiye said in their statements that they would take the necessary moves and necessary measures. In the heart of all these problems, as I have always advocated, we understand how important the sovereignty of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus is and within the vision of our President Ersin Tatar of two states. Because if the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus is not recognized in the international arena, if its sovereign rights and existence are ignored, we may face these and similar moves again.
Is this defense industry and defense agreement a deal that threatens Türkiye?
I think so. When we look at the essence of the incident, there is a conflict between Türkiye and the Greek side in almost every field. In other words, from the exclusive economic zone to the Aegean problem, unfortunately, this is not what anyone wants, but the risk of an armed conflict is there. At this point, the Greek Cypriot side thinks that it can rely on the power of the US.
Of course, the Greek Cypriot side and even Greece cannot be compared with Türkiye as a military power, but they think that the United States will be included in this equation, at least they think that they can impose the policy they want on Türkiye for deterrence or for the policy they want. Hence, the threat.
When we talk about threats, let’s not think of it as a large-scale or military conflict. There is a diplomatic way, a political maneuvering way, a pressure way. From this point of view, yes, I think it is quite understandable that Türkiye perceives this as a threat and that the Turkish side reacts to it.
You mentioned the aim of breaking the influence of Russia and China in the region. Can you explain that a little bit?
Of course, it is known to everyone that we have entered a new global competition. There are Russia and China on one side. A growing Eastern bloc. There is also a reality in Cyprus: For years, Greek Cypriot administration have had very good relations with Russia. However, after EU membership and then, especially after Russia’s war in Ukraine, these relations came to the point of complete rupture.
In fact, according to the Russians, the Greek Cypriot administration is currently on the list of unfriendly countries. Relations between the two countries are currently at their worst in history, and we see this in statement of American officials in open sources.
They are very happy with the Greek Cypriot side. The United States of America is very pleased with this blockade and embargo imposed by the Greek Cypriot side on Russia. For this reason, the fact that Cyprus is drawn to its side limits both the Greek Cypriot side and the Russian activities in the region on the island. As you know, there are two sovereign Russian bases in Syria. That’s why I think Cyprus is very strategic. At this point, we can consider this conflict as a part of the global struggle.