The Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) on Wednesday expressed “great concern” over a planned Status of Forces Agreement between the Greek Cypriot Administration and France, stressing that the deal “has no validity” for the Turkish Cypriot side.
In a statement shared on the US social media platform X, the TRNC Foreign Ministry said the deal, expected to be signed in June, reportedly includes the deployment of French military elements on the island of Cyprus.
It would also expand defence industry cooperation between France and Greek Cyprus, including technology sharing, military training activities, and logistical support for military facilities.
It warned that such an agreement would negatively affect efforts aimed at establishing stability in the region through cooperation and dialogue.
‘Greek Cypriot Administration has no authority to represent the Turkish Cypriots’
“These types of military arrangements, under the guise of humanitarian purposes, aim to increase the military capacity of the Greek Cypriot Administration and disregard the inherent sovereign equal rights of the Turkish Cypriot people,” the statement said. “They also lay the groundwork for tensions both between the two sides on the island and at the regional level.”
The ministry also stressed that the Greek Cypriot Administration lacks the authority to represent the Turkish Cypriot people or the island as a whole.
Describing the move as another sign of what it called the Greek Cypriot Administration’s uncompromising stance, the statement reiterated that the agreement holds no validity for the TRNC and the Turkish Cypriot people.
It added that policies disregarding the rights of Turkish Cypriots once again highlight the importance of Türkiye’s “effective and active guarantee,” and reaffirmed their determination to deepen defence cooperation with Ankara to ensure security.
