Turkey Says It ‘Will Not Hesitate’ To Act Over Cyprus As Regional Conflict Continues

“Turkey, as it was yesterday, is today by the side of and a supporter of the TRNC. Turkey will not hesitate to use the powers granted to us by our guarantor status against hostile attitudes which threaten the security of the Turkish Cypriots,” he told a press conference.

Those comments seem to be an apparent warning to Iran, which fired a drone at Cyprus’ British Akrotiri air force base on Monday, with Turkey’s position on Cyprus, at least with regard to the two defence ministries’ response to the regional conflict, seeming now to be heading towards alignment with that of Greece.

To this end, Akturk had earlier in the same press conference announced that a delegation from the Greek air force will visit Turkey next Monday “within the framework of bilateral relations and regional developments” – the same Greek air force which stationed four F-16 fighter jets in Paphos on Monday.

Akturk described the Greek delegation’s planned visit of as a “confidence-building measure”.

In addition to the fighter jets, to the island two frigates, including the Kimon, described by Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis on Wednesday as the “pride of the Greek fleet”, in response to the firing of an Iranian-made drone at the island on Monday.

The country’s Defence Minister Nikos Dendias was asked about Turkey’s presence in the region and in Cyprus after the frigates and the fighter jets were deployed, and said that “Turkey understands the need that Greece has to defend its territory”.

“The presence of Greek planes and ships is to protect the entire population of Cyprus. We offer a comprehensive service,” he said.

Source: Cyprus Mail