Turkey Turns Northern Cyprus into an Advanced Military Base
Turkey treats the entire occupied Cypriot territory as a major military base serving its broader geopolitical ambitions, continuously strengthening military infrastructure and deploying equipment across these areas.
These developments reflect Ankara’s aim to play a larger geopolitical role under President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, with occupied Cyprus serving as a key tool in implementing Turkey’s regional strategies.
Turkey reacted angrily to the Republic of Cyprus acquiring the Israeli missile defense system Barak MX, with officials and Turkish representatives in northern Cyprus raising strong objections to its capabilities and Israeli origin, according to informed sources.
Cyprus Enhances Deterrence Through International Partnerships
The Republic of Cyprus addresses its security challenges by linking defense system modernization with broader regional developments, according to sources cited by Phileleftheros.
Nicosia has emphasized its strategic geographic and geopolitical importance in talks with partner countries, highlighting two military bases suitable for cooperation.
The United States has shown interest in providing technical and financial support to upgrade the Andreas Papandreou Air Base in Paphos, while European countries, including France, have expressed interest in the Mari Naval Base.
Sources noted: “Cyprus is considered a strategic pivot for investment, and Nicosia is fully leveraging this attention.” The Republic faces persistent security threats from occupied Turkey and seeks to balance power through strengthening the National Guard and expanding international partnerships.
Electronic Warfare Systems and Drone Bases in Occupied North
Turkey has upgraded the illegal Lefkoniko Airport in occupied Cyprus, deploying Bayraktar TB2 drones for surveillance and reconnaissance missions in the region.
These drones can carry weapons and send live imagery to Turkish naval vessels within a 200-kilometer operational range from their ground control station, flying up to 20,000 feet.
Another concerning development is the deployment of the Foral electronic warfare system by Turkish defense company ASELSAN on the Pentadaktilos Mountains, with a range of up to 500 km capable of disrupting Cypriot National Guard systems, despite countermeasures underway.
Work has resumed at the Bogazi Naval Base, previously thought frozen, which will host ships monitoring southern Cyprus alongside a maritime monitoring station at Cape Saint Andreas.
A surveillance system on the Pentadaktilos Mountains has been installed with coverage extending to Lebanon and Israel.
Ankara Replicates British Military Doctrine in the Eastern Mediterranean
Diplomats note that Turkey is implementing a strategy in occupied territories similar to the British military doctrine in the Eastern Mediterranean, when the UK considered the entire island a military base during colonial rule.
The 1960 treaties limited this approach to specific bases rather than the whole island. However, Ankara is now attempting to implement the first phase of that doctrine by converting the entire occupied territory into a strategic military base, serving as a launch point for regional control.
Turkey Maintains Pressure Through Repeated Provocations
Turkey employs a series of escalatory moves and announcements to create tension, according to diplomatic sources, aiming to assert a larger regional role.
This behavior partly reflects Ankara’s response to Cyprus and Greece blocking Turkey’s participation in the EU defense financing program (SAFE), despite European support for Turkish involvement.
Recent Turkish actions include:
- Overreacting to 3D seismic surveys conducted by the Norwegian vessel Ramform Hyperion southeast of Cyprus, issuing NAVTEX warnings and claiming Turkish Cypriot rights to gas revenues.
- Issuing a new NAVTEX for the oceanographic vessel Piri Reis in the Aegean Sea, west of Lesvos and Chios islands, from October 4–14, with unclear survey execution.
- Protesting the participation of two Greek F-16 Viper aircraft in Cyprus’ 65th-anniversary celebrations on October 1, filing additional complaints over flights above Kastellorizo on their return.
Turkey demands what it calls a “fair share” of gas revenues while attempting to prevent the Republic of Cyprus from exploiting its natural resources, according to sources.