Turkey has sent military drones to northern Cyprus. Tensions are high in this gas-rich Mediterranean area due to disputes over the ownership of these reserves.
The drones belonging to Turkey arrived here after the Turkish Cypriot government, recognized only by Ankara, granted permission to deploy them. Their purpose is to protect the security of Turkish research vessels — vessels that are conducting hydrocarbon exploration operations in the disputed waters around this Mediterranean island.
Tensions are also spreading to neighboring countries, including Israel. According to that country’s media, Turkish warships two weeks ago forced one of Israel’s research vessels to leave the vicinity of Cyprus. Last week, as a response to the Turkish action, Israeli military aircraft conducted flights over Turkish research vessels in the same area.
Israel and Egypt have signed an agreement with the Greek Cypriot government to conduct joint studies of energy resources. Turkey, Greece and Great Britain are considered guarantors of Cyprus under the international treaty that granted the island its independence.
It should be recalled that Cyprus has been divided into Turkish and Greek sectors since 1974. That came about after Turkey carried out a military invasion following a coup organized by Greece. The international community recognizes only the Greek Cypriot government.
