In 1974, a Greek Cypriot coup aimed at Greece’s annexation of the island led to Türkiye’s military intervention as a guarantor power to protect Turkish Cypriots from persecution and violence. As a result, the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus was founded in 1983.
It has seen an on-and-off peace process in recent years, including a failed 2017 initiative in Switzerland under the auspices of guarantor countries Türkiye, Greece and the UK.
The Greek Cypriot Administration entered the European Union in 2004, the same year that Greek Cypriots single-handedly blocked a UN plan to end the longstanding dispute.
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German Patriot system
Separately, the ministry announced that a German Patriot air defence system has been deployed at Kurecik in the eastern province of Malatya under NATO’s Standing Defence Plan to strengthen the alliance’s air defence posture.
The German system assumed the mission from a US Patriot battery stationed in the same area on 24 June.
The ministry also said the International Anatolian Eagle 2026 exercise, originally scheduled for 22 June-3 July, had been revised in light of current geopolitical developments and the NATO summit to be held in Türkiye on 7-8 July.
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The exercise is now being conducted as the Trilateral Eagle Exercise with the participation of Türkiye, Azerbaijan and Egypt. Azerbaijan is taking part with two SU-25 aircraft, while Egypt has deployed five F-16 fighter jets.
Separately, Akturk said NATO’s Amphibious Task Force Command and Landing Force Command, led by Türkiye from 1 July 2025, will be transferred to the Netherlands on 30 June.
