Turkey on Wednesday condemned the recent signing of a roadmap between the US and Cyprus on enhancing defense cooperation.
On Monday, the US and the internationally recognized Republic of Cyprus signed the cooperation roadmap in Nicosia. In a joint statement, their defense ministries reaffirmed their commitment to collaborate to tackle international security concerns via the roadmap.
The agreement was signed by Defense Minister Vassilis Palmas and US Assistant Secretary of Defense for International Security Affairs Celeste Wallander at a ceremony in Nicosia.
“This roadmap represents a strong commitment to further enhancing and deepening our relationship,” said Palmas.
Turkey: Military cooperation with Cyprus “harms US’s neutral stance”
The US steps, including last June’s announcement of the launch of a strategic dialogue with Cyprus, are detrimental to the security of the Turkish Cypriot side of the island, the Turkish foreign ministry said.
The Turkish Foreign Ministry warned that actions taken against the security of the Turkish Cypriot side harm the US neutral stance, and make finding a lasting solution to the Cyprus issue difficult.
“These steps taken by the USA authorities to the detriment of the security of the Turkish Cypriot side, including the announcement last June of the launch of a strategic dialogue with the Greek Cypriot Administration, undermine the neutral USA position towards the island of Cyprus and make it more difficult to reach a just, lasting and sustainable settlement of the Cyprus issue,” it said.
“Türkiye, as a Motherland and Guarantor state, will continue to ensure the security and prosperity of the Turkish Cypriots under all circumstances,” it concluded.
The occupied north’s “foreign ministry” on Wednesday accused the US of “bias” regarding the Cyprus problem, following the signing of a roadmap for bilateral defense cooperation with the US.
Cyprus-US strategic dialogue launched in June
In June 2024 Cyprus and the US announced the launch of the strategic dialogue to boost cooperation, following a meeting between Cypriot Foreign Minister Constantinos Kombos and US Secretary of State Antony Blinken in Washington.
“This is an important moment in the relationship between the United States and Cyprus,” Blinken said at the State Department before his met with Kombos.
Blinken stressed: “I think it’s very powerful evidence of the strengthening, the deepening, the broadening of the relationship between our countries, acting together in so many different areas.”
The strategic dialogue will cover six main issues. These will include security, energy, trade, economic cooperation, research, and cybersecurity. The dialogue will take place through regular meetings between delegations from both countries.
Related: Cyprus Condemns Turkish Cypriot Refusal of Reunification Talks