US “slap” at Turkey: Nicosia elevated strategically through NOTAM

US bypasses Northern Cyprus: New strategic move in favor of Nicosia

In a significant geopolitical development attracting international attention, the United States issued a military NOTAM (Notice to Airmen) to designate a large portion of Cyprus’ airspace and maritime area — effectively bypassing the Turkish administration in the occupied north and “erasing” the self-declared pseudo-state in practice.

Specifically, NOTAM A0332/26, issued on March 13 and valid until April 12, allocated restricted airspace from the Republic of Cyprus-controlled FIR Nicosia for US military operations, likely part of operational planning for “Operation Epic Fury” amid ongoing Middle East conflicts.

This move marks a clear shift in US policy, as Washington works exclusively with the legitimate government of the Republic of Cyprus, promoting strategic cooperation while fully disregarding Ankara’s claims over northern Cyprus’ airspace.

According to diplomatic analysts, this strategic “line” over Cyprus and the Eastern Mediterranean conveys three key messages:

• The US affirms Nicosia as the sole legitimate interlocutor and strategic partner in the region.
• It implicitly but effectively rejects Turkey’s claim that the “TRNC” constitutes a governing entity.
• It expands US active participation in operations and strategic planning across the broader Eastern Mediterranean–Middle East geopolitical axis.

US–Cyprus relations have evolved significantly in recent years: following the full lifting of the US arms embargo (initiated in 2020), Washington has steadily enhanced defense cooperation and military presence on the island, including joint exercises, technology partnerships, and base utilization.

The NOTAM also comes amid rising tensions in the Eastern Mediterranean. In early March, Iranian drone attacks targeted RAF Akrotiri in southern Cyprus, prompting military responses from Greece, the United Kingdom, France, and other European states — highlighting the island’s strategic importance.

Ankara has strongly reacted to the US action, repeatedly accusing Washington of abandoning neutrality on the Cyprus issue and undermining Turkish claims in the north. Traditionally, Turkish authorities respond to Cyprus-issued NOTAMs with their own illegal (unrecognized) directives via the occupied Tymbou/Ercan control center, asserting that Nicosia has no jurisdiction over that airspace.

Additionally, the recent deployment of Turkish F‑16s in northern Cyprus has sparked international debate, with US lawmakers calling the move “unacceptable and illegal” under US law and demanding immediate withdrawal.

From a broader geostrategic perspective, Cyprus’ enhanced role in the defense and airspace architecture of the Eastern Mediterranean integrates the island into a strategic axis including the US, Greece, and other European allies, elevating Cyprus from a “regional player” to a critical hub of stability and power projection.

In a world where major powers are reshaping strategic structures, this NOTAM is not merely a flight notice — it is a line drawn on the Mediterranean map, a clear statement of policy and power in one of the planet’s most sensitive geopolitical zones.

Sources / References: Greek City Times, Turkish Minute