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Turkey has issued fresh warnings to Cyprus over its recent defense cooperation agreement with France, with Ankara describing the move as “illegal” and a threat to regional stability.
The comments came from Turkish Defense Minister Yasar Guler, who spoke to journalists in Brussels and criticized the agreement between Cyprus and France, saying it disrupted “delicate balances” in the Eastern Mediterranean.
Guler referred to Cyprus as the “Greek Cypriot Administration of Southern Cyprus” and argued that France, not being a guarantor power on the island, has no legitimate role in such arrangements.
He warned that Turkey, as a guarantor power, is ready to take “whatever is necessary” in response to actions it sees as threatening its interests or those of Turkish Cypriots.
“It is extremely important that all actors avoid actions that could intensify regional tensions… The agreement signed between the Greek Cypriot Administration and France is in fact an initiative without legitimacy,” he said.
He added that Ankara is closely monitoring recent military cooperation in the Eastern Mediterranean, saying such moves could affect what he called the regional security balance.
Without naming specific measures, Guler stressed that Turkey’s military capacity and strategic position give it the ability to respond to any “fait accompli” actions, particularly those it considers directed against the Turkish Cypriot side.
The warning comes as Cyprus continues to deepen defense ties with European partners, including France, as part of broader efforts to strengthen its security footprint in the region.
For Cyprus, the agreement with Paris is seen as part of its wider strategy to build alliances within the European Union and improve defense cooperation amid ongoing tensions in the Eastern Mediterranean.
