Turkey considers naval base in Cyprus, Erdogan says

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan announced Turkey's readiness to construct a naval base in Northern Cyprus, underscoring the persistent division of the island nearly 50 years after Turkey's invasion.

“If necessary, we can construct a base and naval structures in the north,” Erdogan stated on Sunday, according to Turkey’s official Anadolu news agency. This declaration followed his visit to Northern Cyprus to commemorate the 50th anniversary of Turkey's 1974 invasion.

Erdogan also accused Greece of harboring intentions to establish its own naval base in Cyprus, reflecting the continued discord over the island’s future. Cyprus has remained divided since gaining independence from Britain in 1960, with Greek and Turkish Cypriots living on opposite sides of a UN-patrolled border following decades of ethnic tension and conflict.

In 1974, Turkey captured over a third of Cyprus, displacing more than 160,000 Greek Cypriots to the south. The northern part of the island declared itself the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus in 1983, a state recognized only by Turkey.

During Saturday’s military parade in north Nicosia, Erdogan highlighted Turkey's investment in political infrastructure in Northern Cyprus, including the construction of the presidency and parliament buildings. "They are constructing a military base, we are building a political base," he said.

The visit marked a somber anniversary for Greek Cypriots, who mourned those lost or missing since 1974. Cypriot President Nikos Christodoulides reiterated the necessity of reunification, despite the collapse of the last UN-backed reunification talks in 2017.

Erdogan expressed skepticism about resuming negotiations under the current conditions, emphasizing the need for equality at the negotiation table. “Frankly, we do not think it is possible to start a new negotiation process without establishing an equation whereby both parties sit down as equals and leave the table as equals,” he said.

The Turkish President also praised the presence of Ozgur Ozel, leader of Turkey’s main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP), during his visit, citing it as a testament to national unity regarding Cyprus.

[Information sourced from Al Jazeera]