Yiannis Ioannou
Turkish pro-government media are increasingly discussing the ''replacement'' of the British Bases (SBA) in Cyprus by the United States and the ''encirclement'' of Turkey by America, citing US bases in Alexandroupolis, Larissa, Crete, and Cyprus. These reports are becoming more frequent in Turkish newspapers and online media, particularly in light of the growing relationship between Washington and Nicosia. This relationship, sealed by the visit of President Nicos Christodoulides to Washington, now includes visible military cooperation, such as joint training exercises between the Cypriot Armed Forces and US military units, as well as frequent visits by US warships to Cypriot ports. The media reports have even prompted reactions from the Turkish Ministry of Defense, including on the eve of the 41st anniversary of the declaration of the self-declared "TRNC" on 15 November 1983.
What is Actually Happening
According to well-informed sources, there are no plans to grant the US a permanent military base in Cyprus, nor to replace the British Bases (established under the Treaty of Establishment of the Republic of Cyprus). As Cypriot Defense Minister Vassilis Palmas clarified in interviews with local TV stations, the presence of US forces in Cyprus—particularly following the events of 7 October last year—is tied to the strengthening of bilateral relations between the Republic of Cyprus and the United States. This presence is not linked to any offensive actions in the region, but rather to humanitarian missions, such as RESEVAC (evacuation and rescue operations in conflict zones). Both the situation in Lebanon and the 2023 crisis in Sudan underscored the importance of Cyprus, due to its proximity, in supporting such operations. Cyprus played a key role in civilian evacuations from Lebanon, during both the 2006 war and the aftermath of the Beirut port explosion in 2020.
An Ongoing Debate
The debate over US military presence in Cyprus is a recurring issue in the Turkish press, in disinformation campaigns, and in the public discourse in general. This debate has its roots in the extensive use of the British Bases by the US during the Cold War and the Arab-Israeli conflicts of the 1960s and 1970s. Even today, the RAF Cape Air Base and Troodos facilities are an open secret as part of the Western security network through the 5 Eyes intelligence alliance. These facilities frequently resurface in disinformation narratives, particularly in the context of the ongoing Israel-Hamas war in Gaza and the Israel-Hezbollah conflict in Lebanon.
[This article was translated from its Greek original]
