Erdogan: Turkish Presence in Northern Cyprus to Endure ‘for Centuries

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan reaffirmed Turkey’s commitment to northern Cyprus during a TEKNOFEST awards ceremony in Nicosia’s divided northern sector.

Declaring Turkey and Turkish Cypriots the “rightful owners” of the region, Erdogan vowed their presence would persist “for centuries.” He framed the event as a step toward a shared future of “one nation, two states,” emphasizing unity and resolve.

Erdogan showcased Turkey’s advancing defense technology, highlighting drones like Bayraktar Kizilelma and Anka-3, the KAAN fighter jet, Hurjet and Hurkus aircraft, the Atak-2 helicopter, and the TCG Anadolu amphibious assault ship. “We rank among the top three globally in unmanned combat aircraft,” he stated, pledging to strengthen both Turkey and northern Cyprus, recognized only by Turkey as an independent state.

He also announced plans to link northern Cyprus to Turkey’s power grid, building on a prior undersea water pipeline.

Cyprus has been divided since 1974, when Turkey invaded following a Greece-backed coup. Turkey maintains over 35,000 troops in the northern third, which declared independence as a Turkish Cypriot state, recognized solely by Turkey.

Source: pagenews.gr