TRNC president backs Erdogan’s warning on Eastern Mediterranean rights
Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus President Tufan Erhurman voiced support for President Erdogan’s warning that any challenge to Türkiye’s and Turkish Cypriots’ rights in the Eastern Mediterranean would face a “very clear and very harsh” response. Erhurman said any move to exclude Turkish Cypriots from security, energy, and maritime issues cannot succeed.
Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) President Tufan Erhurman expressed full support on Thursday for Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s recent warning regarding the Eastern Mediterranean and Cyprus. Commenting on Erdogan’s statement that “If the rights and interests of Türkiye and the Turkish Cypriots in the Eastern Mediterranean are targeted, I want it to be known that our response will be very clear and very harsh,” Erhurman said: “The statement made by President Recep Tayyip Erdogan of the Republic of Türkiye in this regard is very appropriate.” Speaking at a press conference titled “200 Days at the Presidency,” Erhurman stressed that any attempt to exclude Turkish Cypriots and Türkiye from issues of security, energy, and maritime jurisdiction “cannot achieve results.”
Diplomatic and military stance
Erhurman noted that he had attended the Antalya Diplomacy Forum and meetings of the Organization of Turkic States (OTS) in Kazakhstan to advance Turkish Cypriot interests. He added that negotiations on Cyprus are not conducted merely for the sake of talks, and that the public will be informed about discussions with the UN and the Greek Cypriot administration. Separately, Türkiye’s National Defense Ministry stated that any military alliance targeting the rights of Türkiye and the TRNC has “no chance of success.” The ministry warned that the Turkish Armed Forces are ready to give “the harshest response” to hostile actions.
Criticism of France-Greek Cyprus agreement
The defense ministry also criticized an agreement signed between France and the Greek Cypriot administration, calling it a provocation aimed at destabilizing the Eastern Mediterranean. The ministry argued that France has no guarantor status in Cyprus, and that the agreement disregards the will and sovereign equal rights of Turkish Cypriots, contrary to the 1960 Cyprus Agreements and international law. For Türkiye, the Eastern Mediterranean is a critical region for energy exploration and maritime security. Ankara has repeatedly stated that no activity can take place in the region without the consent of Turkish Cypriots.
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