May 3, 2025
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Saturday reaffirmed Turkey’s political and military commitment to Turkish-occupied northern Cyprus during a TEKNOFEST awards ceremony in the northern part of Cyprus’ divided capital, Nicosia.
Erdogan said Turkey and Turkish Cypriots are the “rightful owners” of northern Cyprus and pledged that their presence on the island would continue “for centuries.”
“This is not just a celebration,” he said. “It is a decisive step toward the shared future of one nation, two states, with one heart. Whoever doesn’t know this must learn it. Whoever hasn’t heard it must hear it.”
Erdogan highlighted Turkey’s growing defense capabilities, citing systems such as the Bayraktar Kizilelma and Anka-3 drones, the KAAN fighter jet, Hurjet and Hurkus aircraft, the Atak-2 helicopter and the amphibious assault ship TCG Anadolu.
“We are now among the top three countries in unmanned combat aircraft technology,” Erdogan said. “With your trust, we will build a stronger Turkey and a more prosperous northern Cyprus,” he added, referring to the Turkish-held north, recognized only by Turkey as an independent state.
He also announced plans to connect the region to Turkey’s power grid, following an earlier undersea water pipeline project.
Cyprus was divided in 1974 when Turkey invaded following a coup backed by the military dictatorship imposed to Greece by the CIA. Only Turkey recognizes the Turkish Cypriot declaration of independence in the island’s northern third, where it maintains more than 35,000 troops.
