Israel’s growing presence in Cyprus sparks warning: “Türkiye won’t stand aside”

An analysis published in Greek Cypriot newspaper Cyprus Mail has raised significant concerns about Israel's expanding military and economic footprint in Cyprus, warning the island risks becoming entangled in broader regional conflicts. The assessment questions whether Israel represents the ally Greek Cypriot administration envisions or primarily seeks strategic footholds in the Eastern Mediterranean, noting existing Turkish concerns about uncompromising Greek Cypriot positions and growing Israeli regional presence.

Growing Israeli Influence and Local Concerns

The analysis highlights the approximately 15,000 Israeli residents now living in southern Cyprus and the negative impacts their presence has created among the local Greek Cypriot population. According to the assessment, growing discomfort within the Greek Cypriot community stems from Israel's uncontrolled expansion of influence in the region, raising questions about the sustainability of current partnership dynamics between Nicosia and Jerusalem amid ongoing regional tensions.

Military Cooperation and Strategic Dependencies

Since 2017, the Greek Cypriot administration has pursued enhanced security cooperation with Israel through joint military exercises, air defense training, and long-range attack simulations. More recently, the administration purchased Israel's Barak MX air defense system and agreed to import Israeli gas via pipeline from the Karish field. While these developments appear to strengthen Cyprus's defenses and economy, the analysis suggests they increasingly tether the island to Israel's regional objectives, creating strategic dependencies that could prove problematic during regional crises.

Regional Security Implications and Turkish Stance

The assessment warns that once Israeli forces, infrastructure, and energy routes become established, they cannot be easily removed, potentially transforming Cyprus into "an extension of Israel's regional war operations platform" and a potential target in broader conflicts. The analysis references Israeli leaders' expressed ambitions for a "Greater Israel" extending beyond current borders and notes recent clashes with Hezbullah demonstrate how quickly regional escalation can occur. These developments occur against the backdrop of Türkiye's well-known concerns about both Greek Cypriot intransigence and expanding Israeli regional presence, creating complex geopolitical dynamics in the Eastern Mediterranean.