Turkish Cyprus sees US warship presence in Limassol as a threat

The Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) warned yesterday that the continued deployment of US warships in the Greek Cypriot Administration of Southern Cyprus (GASC) will escalate tensions.

“The military cooperation between the US and Southern Cyprus is intended to be used by the Greek Cypriot Administration as an element of threat against our country,” said the TRNC foreign ministry.

The statement follows the arrival of two US Navy guided missile destroyers, the USS Arleigh Burke and the USS Roosevelt, in Limassol on 27 July. The TRNC emphasised that it “will not refrain from taking all necessary steps” with Turkiye to ensure the security of Turkish Cypriots.

Northern Cyprus highlighted the fact that the US lifted an arms embargo on Southern Cyprus two years ago, and insisted that sending warships serves “no other purpose than increasing tension.”

The island of Cyprus has been divided for decades between Greek and Turkish Cypriots. In 1974, a Greek Cypriot coup aimed at annexing the island to Greece prompted Turkiye to intervene militarily to protect Turkish Cypriots.

This led to the establishment of the TRNC in 1983, which is currently only recognised by Turkiye. Efforts to reunify the island have failed repeatedly, most notably in 2004 when Greek Cypriots rejected a UN plan. Earlier this month, Cyprus commemorated 50 years since the start of the conflict that led to the island’s division.

The TRNC accuses the Greek Cypriot administration of endangering peace by becoming a logistical base for Western military operations, particularly in support of Israel’s actions in Gaza. President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has warned that Ankara may establish naval bases in Northern Cyprus if necessary. 

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