Turkey Cyprus to apply for Nato membership

According to President Nikos Christodoulidis, EU member Cyprus wants to become a member of NATO. It was the first time that Cyprus had announced this so openly.

The President added on Cypriot radio that he was aware that Nato member Turkey was opposed to this, but that Nicosia would nevertheless submit its application for membership of the Western defense alliance when the time was right.

Ankara rejects Cyprus' membership as long as the island remains divided and the Turkish Cypriots have no say in the decision.

A possible NATO membership is also the reason why Cyprus is expanding its military cooperation with the USA despite Turkish criticism, said Christodoulidis. The island republic will provide the USA with an air base. This is not least due to Cyprus' geographical proximity to the Middle East. From the south of Cyprus, for example, it is only 250 kilometers as the crow flies across the Mediterranean to the Lebanese capital Beirut.

The island of Cyprus has been de facto divided since 1974. In the north, which is occupied by Turkish troops, there is the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, which is only recognized worldwide by Turkey. Ankara does not recognize the Republic of Cyprus, which has been a member of the EU since 2004. EU law and regulations therefore only apply in the southern part.

SDA