AHI Marks 52nd Anniversary of Invasion and Occupation of the Republic of Cyprus
Posted by estiator at 21 July, at 12 : 41 PM Print
WASHINGTON, DC — As the anniversary of Türkiye’s illegal invasion and occupation of the Republic of Cyprus enters its 52nd year, the American Hellenic Institute (AHI) remembers this grave violation of international law and will continue to fight for reunification with renewed resolve. For generations, the Republic of Cyprus and its people have endured an illegal occupation by over 40,000 Turkish troops, along with massive violations of both human rights and fundamental freedoms. More than a half century of illegal occupation of a European Union member and U.S. partner by Türkiye, a NATO ally, is unacceptable. The United States must take further steps to bring an end to this injustice and hold Türkiye responsible for its actions.
AHI calls for the immediate removal of all Turkish troops from the Republic of Cyprus, urges Congress to address use of U.S. weapons.
As established in the Eastern Mediterranean Security and Energy Partnership Act of 2019 sections of the Further Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2020, “at least 40,000 Turkish troops are stationed in the occupied part of Cyprus with some weapons procured from the United States through mainland Turkey.” If the President were to conduct a report pursuant to authorities provided under the Arms Export Control Act (AECA), this use of American weapons for purposes other than legitimate self-defence is likely to be found in violation of U.S. laws that regulate the use of said arms. The President must put a stop to this irresponsible use of American weapons by initiating such a report immediately. If no such report is forthcoming, Congress must enact separate legislation to certify that Türkiye’s use of American weapons in this capacity is for an illegitimate purpose and simultaneously sanction Türkiye for said illegitimate use.
Türkiye must cease other forms of aggression towards the Republic of Cyprus
Beyond ending its occupation of the Republic of Cyprus, Türkiye’s perpetual threats and acts of aggression toward the country must end. Challenges to the sovereignty of the Republic of Cyprus in any capacity are unacceptable and clearly demonstrate that Türkiye is a force of instability in the Eastern Mediterranean.
The most recent and serious action by Türkiye that threatened to destabilize the region occurred in the context of the Iran conflict. Ankara demonstrated its opportunistic and self-regarding tendencies by using the conflict as a pretext to send F-16s to the land it illegally occupies on Cyprus – in clear violation of U.S. law.
Another example of such challenges is the illegal reopening of a beach in Varosha located within the fenced-in area of the territory of the Republic of Cyprus, which is specifically and explicitly in violation of United Nations resolutions and international treaties. The reopening of Varosha’s beach demonstrates President Erdogan’s lack of commitment to resuming meaningful settlement talks and indicates that he favors pursuing steps to continue the occupation of the Republic of Cyprus.
Moreover, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan publicly supports a “two-state” solution for the Republic of Cyprus, which does not follow United Nations resolutions and international law addressing the resolution of the division of the Republic of Cyprus. Erdogan’s position is unacceptable in any capacity and must be unequivocally rejected as an option by the United States.
Finally, Türkiye’s illegal occupation of Cyprus has impacted the ability of the Committee on Missing Persons in Cyprus (CMP) to access certain Turkish military installations to excavate the remains of 927 missing Cypriots, including four of Americans, who disappeared during the 1974 invasion.
Calling for Engagement at the Highest Levels
The United States must demonstrate it is dedicated to solving the occupation of the Republic of Cyprus problem by voicing and advancing positions that underscore support for the rule of law and respect for international law.
AHI urges for increased condemnation of the division of the Republic of Cyprus by the United States government and international community.
AHI urges the United States government to take a proactive leadership role to send a clear message to Erdogan by calling on him to support reunification efforts in a constructive manner which would include the removal of troops, illegal settlers, and rights of guarantees.
Furthermore, Cypriots themselves should have ownership of the resolution process, and the Cypriot people should arrive at a solution that is for the Cypriot people, which must embody the full respect of the principles and laws of the European Union, of which the Republic of Cyprus is a member.
The Republic of Cyprus as Strategic Partner, Regional Problem Solver
Despite facing the pressures and limitations resulting from its occupation, the Republic of Cyprus has made tremendous strides since 1974 to become a beacon of security and stability in the Eastern Mediterranean. Today, the Republic of Cyprus is viewed by the United States as a strategic partner due to its commitment to counterterrorism and global security.
Recent developments have significantly strengthened the bilateral relationship to the point where the State Department announced that the “cooperation between the United States and the ROC is at a historic high” in January 2025.
The establishment of the U.S.-Cyprus Strategic Dialogue and a multi-year Defense Cooperation Roadmap have institutionalized cooperation in areas such as maritime security, crisis response, and military training. The State Partnership Program between the New Jersey National Guard and the Cypriot National Guard further reinforces operational collaboration. Cyprus also plays a critical role in regional security through facilities such as the Cyprus Centre for Land, Open Seas, and Port Security (CYCLOPS), which supports U.S.-aligned training and capacity-building initiatives.
These latest developments build upon decades of positive developments that took root when the Republic of Cyprus became a signatory to the United States’ Proliferation Security Initiative in 2005. Since then, U.S. and the Republic of Cyprus signed a Statement of Intent agreement that led to enhancements such as the United States providing funding through the International Military Education and Training (IMET) program to the Republic of Cyprus for the first time and the suspension of the decades-old U.S. arms embargo on the Republic of Cyprus. The full and permanent lifting of the arms embargo, along with the removal of remaining restrictions under the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR), must be implemented to strengthen defense cooperation, enhance interoperability, and solidify Cyprus’ role as a reliable and capable U.S. security partner. Ending the current five-year review requirement would further facilitate long-term defense planning and interoperability while strengthening U.S.-Cypriot security cooperation.
The Republic of Cyprus continues to advance its bilateral relations with key U.S. allies, including Greece and Israel, and plays an integral role in the “3+1” Eastern Mediterranean multilateral cooperation structure. The Republic of Cyprus also continues to emerge as a major future player in the energy sector in the Eastern Mediterranean, the broader region, and Europe – despite Türkiye’s contesting of its EEZ, which should be addressed by the U.S. for its hindrance to the projects of U.S. energy companies.
Finally, Cyprus successfully concluded its six-month term as the presidency of the Council of the European Union on June 30, 2026, demonstrating added importance as a valued U.S. partner.
Background of the 1974 Invasion of the Republic of Cyprus
On July 20, 1974, the Government of Türkiye ordered its military to invade the Republic of Cyprus, and on August 14, 1974, three weeks after the legitimate government of the Republic of Cyprus was restored, Türkiye launched the second phase of its invasion, illegally occupying 37% of the Republic of Cyprus’s sovereign territory, killing innocent civilians, forcing 170,000 Greek Cypriots from their homes and properties, and committing mass destruction of Cyprus’ cultural and religious heritage, including an estimated 500 churches and religious sites belonging to Christian and Jewish communities. Such actions were in violation of the Treaty of Establishment, the Treaty of Alliance, and Treaty of Guaranty which established the Republic of Cyprus and guaranteed the independence of the Republic of Cyprus, the United Nations Charter, and international law.
AHI contends that the Republic of Cyprus cannot fully fulfill its role as a strategic partner of the United States while it remains compelled to allocate substantial resources toward addressing the consequences of Türkiye’s illegal occupation.
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The American Hellenic Institute (AHI) is a non-profit policy center and think tank founded in 1974 that promotes the interests of the United States in foreign affairs involving Greece, the Republic of Cyprus, the Eastern Mediterranean, and Southern Europe.
For additional information, please contact us at (202) 785-8430 or pr@ahiworld.org. For general information about the activities of AHI, please see our website at http://www.ahiworld.org.
