Cyprus official urges taking Turkey's invasion threats 'very seriously'

An official from Cyprus stated that Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan's recent threat to invade Israel should not be taken lightly and reveals Ankara's continued regional ambitions.

Cyprus' official government spokesperson, Konstantinos Letymbiotis, stated to Planet Chronicle Digital that any public threat must be taken extremely seriously and the international community cannot disregard them.

"Respect for international law is fundamental, as history has shown, and it is essential that we all be strongly committed to it. However, unfortunately, Turkey has been illegally occupying 37% of the Republic of Cyprus's territory for the past 50 years."

Letymbiotis stated that we are aware of the outcomes of an unlawful invasion and treat every threat with utmost seriousness.

Erdoğan proposed in July that Turkey must be strong to prevent Israel from taking actions against Palestine, and that Turkey might take similar actions as it did in Karabakh and Libya.

Israel's Foreign Minister Israel Katz criticized Erdoğan, comparing him to Saddam Hussein and urging him to remember the consequences of his actions, as Hussein was hanged in 2006.

An embassy spokesperson in the U.S. stated to Planet Chronicle Digital that Turkey has no issue with the Israeli people, but their problem has been with the actions and steps of the current extremist Israeli government.

Letymbiotis pointed out that the problem is that the world no longer has "frozen conflicts" and it is becoming more evident, especially in our region, with increasingly intense fighting.

Letymbiotis highlights the "Turkification" of parts of Cyprus, including the renaming of geographical sites and the "systematic destruction" of cultural and historical heritage, as evidence that Turkey seeks influence and control rather than any altruistic motives.

""This is not the first time we have seen a neo-Ottoman approach from Turkey in the context of Turkish revisionism and expansionism," Letymbiotis stated."

The timing of Turkey and President Erdoğan's continuation of their narrative, particularly in the context of the Republic of Cyprus government's intensive efforts to resume negotiations, should also be highlighted.

In 1974, Turkey invaded Cyprus and divided it along ethnic lines, despite the island's goal of unifying with Greece. Only Turkey recognizes a Turkish Cypriot declaration of independence, and although Cyprus is a member of the European Union, only the south enjoys full membership benefits.

Cyprus has contacted other countries, including Armenia, that have been affected by Turkey's regional aspirations, specifically regarding the Karabakh conflict, where Erdoğan referred to it as an enclave of approximately 120,000 Armenians who resided in Azerbaijan until they were expelled from the country last year and their property was seized by Baku.

Cyprus was a crucial part of the U.S. plan to deliver humanitarian aid to Gaza, as Israel continued its operations in the country. In March, the European Union and the United States established a sea route that began in Cyprus and delivered aid to ports on the Gaza Strip.

Lior Haiat, former spokesperson for Israel’s foreign ministry, announced on social media platform X in March that the Cypriot initiative will enable an increase in humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip after a security check in accordance with Israeli standards.

Letymbiotis believes that this cooperation, which originated during the "best era" of Cyprus-U.S. relations, will enhance Cyprus's standing and global image, resulting in more progress.

"Our relationship with the United States of America is built on a foundation of mutual trust," Letymbiotis stated. "Cyprus is no longer viewed by the U.S. solely through the lens of the Cyprus problem, but also as a dependable and stable ally."

"The evacuations of citizens in crisis in the region and the domestic initiative that created the maritime border to provide humanitarian aid to people in Gaza have emphasized the role of Cyprus and the level of cooperation."

He expressed regret that Turkey's membership in NATO causes problems, as the country can use its veto power to hinder others, such as when Sweden had to comply with Ankara's demands before Erdoğan agreed to let it join the alliance.

If Cyprus applied for membership in the North Atlantic alliance, Turkey, who is unwilling to discuss the issue, would likely behave similarly to Ankara's behavior regarding Swedish membership.

The Cyprus spokesman's comments were not responded to by the Turkish embassy when contacted by Planet Chronicle Digital.

This report was contributed to by Caitlin McFall of Planet Chronicle Digital and The Associated Press.