Işıksal: "Southern Cyprus Faces Increased Risk of Involvement in Regional Conflict"

Işıksal highlighted the increased risk of Southern Cyprus becoming embroiled in the ongoing regional conflict.

In an analysis for AA, Işıksal emphasized that the election of Nikos Christodoulides as the leader of the Greek Cypriot administration has led to a new foreign policy heavily reliant on external actors, particularly the United States. This policy, coupled with a series of reckless steps, has exposed the island to various dangers.

Is Cyprus Being Used as a Military Base to Aid Israel?

Işıksal noted that Western countries have employed multiple strategies to support Israel, including political, economic, and covert military operations. Due to its proximity to Israel, Cyprus and its military bases are of critical importance. The military airbase in Baf (Paphos) and the British sovereign bases in the south have frequently been reported as hubs for U.S. and U.K. military operations in the Middle East, thereby increasing Southern Cyprus's risk of involvement in the regional conflict.

Since 2018, Southern Cyprus has been operating under U.S. influence and has signed a "strategic dialogue" agreement with the U.S., further committing itself to America's strategic plans in the region. Additionally, Southern Cyprus has entered into a series of military cooperation agreements with Israel, including joint exercises. However, the Greek Cypriot leadership has failed to provide clear answers regarding the nature of Cyprus-based military operations, the use of British bases, and whether the island's military bases are involved.

In June, amid escalating tensions between Israel and Hezbollah, Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah issued a warning, threatening Southern Cyprus if it continued to allow its bases to be used by Israel. This marked the beginning of a dangerous new phase, further exacerbated by the recent docking of a U.S. aircraft carrier in Limassol, which sparked widespread opposition among both the Turkish and Greek Cypriot communities.

The Problem Stems from Southern Cyprus

In response to these developments, Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan and TRNC President Ersin Tatar both warned the Greek Cypriot administration against taking unilateral and irresponsible actions that could endanger Cyprus. However, the Greek Cypriot leadership's response was a hollow slogan: "Cyprus is part of the solution, not the problem," reflecting their continued reliance on rhetoric rather than substantive policy.

On the ground, it has become evident that Southern Cyprus is not just a part of the region's problems but has become a significant source of them. Christodoulides' attempts to deceive his own people by promising a return to negotiations and a solution based on a single-state framework have been met with growing skepticism among the Greek Cypriot public. Furthermore, the rejection of President Tatar's cooperation proposals, which would benefit both communities, continues to harm relations between the two sides.

The recent failure of the "Amalthia" project, which was meant to provide a humanitarian maritime corridor to Gaza, further underscores the inadequacies of the Greek Cypriot administration's policies. The evolving situation in the Middle East, which is rapidly moving towards a larger conflict, could have severe repercussions for Cyprus, especially if Southern Cyprus continues its irresponsible policies.

Işıksal concluded by reaffirming the importance of Turkey's effective and de facto guarantee on the island, which has ensured peace and stability in Cyprus for decades. He emphasized that no political equation in the region can succeed without the involvement of Turkey and the TRNC, and any attempts to establish a new balance in the Eastern Mediterranean without them are destined to fail.