Erdoğan Warns on Cyprus: It Cannot Become Part of Military Structures

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan spoke on Wednesday after a cabinet meeting in Ankara, saying Turkey was closely following developments related to the Cyprus issue. During his remarks, he also warned against any initiative that, according to Ankara, excludes the Turkish Cypriot side.

“We are carefully monitoring every step taken by circles seeking to turn Cyprus into part of new military structures and geopolitical calculations,” he said.

He also reiterated Ankara’s position that any future negotiation process on the Cyprus issue must be based on what Turkey describes as the “sovereign equality” of Turkish Cypriots.

“No initiative that ignores the sovereign equality, rights and legitimate interests of Turkish Cypriots in the eastern Mediterranean can succeed,” he said.

He also reiterated Turkey’s commitment to supporting the Turkish Cypriot community, saying Ankara “will never allow them, regardless of the cost, to relive their past suffering.”

Erdoğan described Turkey’s role on the island as a matter of “national security,” signaling that Ankara had no intention of changing its position despite renewed diplomatic efforts led by the United Nations.

His comments came just hours after UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres concluded meetings with Cyprus President Nikos Christodoulides and Turkish Cypriot leader Tufan Erhurman, during which he announced plans to convene a new expanded meeting on Cyprus.