Turkey officially pushed back against Washington's decision to extend the lifting of the US arms embargo on Cyprus for a...

Turkey officially pushed back against Washington's decision to extend the lifting of the US arms embargo on Cyprus for another year, through September 30, 2027. Ankara released a formal statement opposing the move, claiming it could raise tensions on the island and damage trust between Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots. The Turkish Foreign Ministry framed the US decision as a destabilizing act, arguing that the Greek Cypriot side has been ramping up pressure on Turkish Cypriots, who Turkey describes as "co-owners of the island," and that heavy weapons activity undermines regional stability. Ankara said it aligns fully with the statement issued by the so-called "Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus" on the matter. Turkey's statement went further, declaring that as a "Motherland and Guarantor Power," it will ensure the security of Turkish Cypriots under any circumstances. It also pledged to continue pushing for the internationally unrecognized breakaway northern state to gain a seat in the international community. The US first lifted its longstanding arms embargo on Cyprus back in 2022 after decades of restrictions aimed at preventing an arms buildup on the divided island. The annual renewal has repeatedly drawn objections from Ankara, which maintains tens of thousands of troops in the north of Cyprus following its 1974 military invasion. Cyprus remains divided along a UN-monitored buffer zone. The Republic of Cyprus, the internationally recognized government, controls the south, while the north has been under Turkish military occupation for 52 years. #Cyprus #Turkey #USForeignPolicy