Türkiye, TRNC leaders discuss energy projects, underline shared future

Turkish Vice President Cevdet Yilmaz and Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus President Tufan Erhurman on Friday discussed economic cooperation and energy infrastructure during high-level talks in Lefkosa, emphasizing Ankara's commitment to the island's Turkish community.

Energy Infrastructure

Yilmaz attended the signing ceremony for a 101-kilometer undersea natural gas pipeline agreement between Türkiye and the TRNC, stating the project would strengthen energy security and support economic development. “I firmly believe this step in the energy sector will be a historic milestone that will further strengthen the strong cooperation between our countries,” he said.

He added that Ankara considers meeting the TRNC's energy needs a priority and will continue supporting efforts to build competitive infrastructure and a sustainable economy, noting that energy security directly affects economic stability and competitiveness.

Strategic Partnership

The Turkish vice president said reciprocal visits demonstrate the shared history and common future binding Türkiye and the TRNC, noting that both sides maintain close consultation on strategic issues, international platforms, and national matters. He emphasized that Turkish Cypriot rights, freedom, and security constitute an integral part of Türkiye's national cause rather than merely a foreign policy matter.

As a guarantor state, Türkiye will continue defending the Turkish Cypriot cause on all platforms and working toward a fair, lasting solution based on sovereign equality, Yilmaz added. Energy and Natural Resources Minister Alparslan Bayraktar and Türkiye's Ambassador to the TRNC Ali Murat Basceri accompanied the vice president during the visit.

Decades-Long Division

Cyprus has remained divided since ethnic attacks in the 1960s forced Turkish Cypriots into enclaves for their safety, followed by a 1974 Greek Cypriot coup aimed at annexation by Greece that prompted Türkiye's military intervention as a guarantor power. The Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus was founded in 1983 after the intervention, though decades of UN-led peace efforts have yet to yield a comprehensive settlement.

The Greek Cypriot Administration entered the European Union in 2004 — the same year Greek Cypriots rejected a UN reunification plan in a referendum — while recent initiatives including a failed 2017 summit in Switzerland under the auspices of guarantor countries Türkiye, Greece, and the UK have stalled.