Ankara Criticizes Military Cooperation Between France and Cyprus in the Eastern Mediterranean

11th June 2026

3 minutes read

Ankara Criticizes Military Cooperation Between France and Cyprus in the Eastern Mediterranean

Sources within the Turkish Ministry of Defense have stated that the country is capable of delivering the strongest possible response to hostile actions threatening the security of Turkish Cypriots, referring to an agreement between Paris and Nicosia described as a “Status of Forces Agreement.”

On Thursday, the Turkish Ministry of Defense declared that no military alliance targeting the rights and interests of Turkey and the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus would have any chance of succeeding, referring to a military agreement between Cyprus and France concerning the Eastern Mediterranean.

Speaking after the ministry’s weekly press briefing by spokesperson Zeki Aktürk in the southern province of Antalya, ministry sources stated that the Turkish Armed Forces “possess the strength and determination to deliver the harshest response to hostile actions threatening the security of Turkish Cypriots.”

Responding to questions regarding the “Status of Forces Agreement” signed between France and Cyprus, the sources said that “the ministry is closely monitoring this provocation, which aims to destabilize the Eastern Mediterranean and increase tensions.” They added that the agreement between France and Cyprus, which seeks to unilaterally alter the island’s delicate balance while disregarding the will of Turkish Cypriots and their equal sovereign rights, contradicts the 1960 Cyprus Agreements and international law.

The sources further explained that these measures, which lack legitimacy and whose consequences have not been carefully considered, along with similar initiatives, could lead to serious repercussions for the southern part of the island.

On Tuesday, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus announced that France and Cyprus had signed an agreement on June 8 that includes provisions such as the deployment of French military personnel on the island, the exchange of military technology, the conduct of joint military exercises, the provision of equipment support to military facilities, and the expansion of defense industry cooperation between Paris and Nicosia.

The ministry stressed that “these measures, which are increasingly being pursued under the guise of humanitarian objectives but are in reality intended to secure military advantages and privileges while ignoring the inherent and equal sovereign rights of the Turkish Cypriot people on the island, constitute actions aimed at disrupting the delicate balances related to the security and stability of both the island and the wider region. The Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus and the Turkish Cypriot people consider them to have no legal validity.”

These statements come after warnings issued by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan regarding the growing influence of Israel in the region. Speaking before Parliament, he said that there were “malicious” initiatives led by the Israeli state aimed at destabilizing the Mediterranean region. He warned that “no one should embark on reckless adventures” or join Israel’s “boat of discord,” emphasizing that Ankara’s response to any actions violating the rights of Turks and Turkish Cypriots would be clear and forceful.

He also sharply criticized Israel over its regional escalation, stating that Israeli military attacks on Syria and Lebanon had reached a level that could also threaten Turkey.

In recent years, a trilateral cooperation framework involving Israel, Greece, and Cyprus has emerged in the Eastern Mediterranean. Initially focused on limited energy-related cooperation, it has gradually evolved into a broader partnership encompassing security, military cooperation, and strategic infrastructure projects, which Ankara views as a challenge to its influence and interests.

This growing alignment is based on increasingly converging political and security interests amid a regional environment characterized by complex maritime disputes, competition over natural gas resources, and disagreements concerning maritime boundary delimitation, particularly involving Turkey. As a result, the three countries have intensified their coordination through increased political contacts and expanded military and intelligence cooperation, aiming to enhance their collective readiness in addressing maritime and aerial challenges in the region.