In a surprising move reflecting more on regional geopolitics than practical energy solutions, the Greek Cypriot administration has approved an ambitious and costly project linking their electricity grid to Greece via the world’s longest and deepest undersea cable.

The “Great Sea Interconnector,” as it is branded, will stretch over 1,208 kilometers (750 miles) and reach depths of 3,000 meters (9,843 feet), making it a colossal engineering feat. The project is expected to take over six years to complete and is estimated to cost €1.6 billion, with partial funding from the European Union. 

While heralded as a breakthrough in European energy integration, many observers have noticed a striking resemblance to the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus’s (TRNC) more pragmatic and geographically logical energy partnership with Türkiye. At the heart of this strategic contrast lies a question: why does the Greek Cypriot administration pursue a project with such geographical and financial challenges when a more viable solution has already been pioneered by the TRNC?

TRNC-Türkiye Energy Ties: A Rational Partnership

President Ersin Tatar of the TRNC has long emphasized the importance of a practical and sustainable energy partnership with Türkiye. The ongoing electricity project between Türkiye and the TRNC, which spans just 85 kilometers, is both cost-effective and technically superior to the Greek Cypriot counterpart. According to experts involved in the project, it uses the HVDC-VSC model, which is considered the most advanced and reliable system for long-distance undersea cables. 

Prof. Dr. Murat Fahrioglu, a key figure in the TRNC-Türkiye connection project, highlighted the advantage of proximity, stating that “island networks need connection to mainland networks, and the TRNC’s partnership with Türkiye ensures a stable, reliable, and economically viable energy solution”. Unlike the Greek Cypriot-Greek-Israeli project, which requires extensive political coordination and costly infrastructure across vast distances, the TRNC's project is already technically ready.

President Tatar has consistently emphasized the logic behind the TRNC's energy strategy. He stated, "There are many areas where we can cooperate across the island—energy, water, electricity, infrastructure, and environment—but our energy future will be best met by strengthening our ties with Türkiye". The short distance between the TRNC and Türkiye ensures greater efficiency and a stronger energy partnership, unlike the over-ambitious Greek project that spans over 1,000 kilometers of the Mediterranean.

EU’s Controversial Role in the Project

Adding to the contentious nature of the Great Sea Interconnector is the European Union’s decision to partially fund the project, raising questions about its involvement in yet another Greek Cypriot-led venture. The total cost of €1.6 billion has been offset by €657 million in EU funding. However, Turkish Cypriots, who make up a significant portion of Cyprus's population, were not consulted on the project, reflecting the same issues of exclusion that marred Cyprus’s accession to the EU in 2004.

The funding decision has sparked criticism, particularly in light of Cyprus’s failed gas terminal project, which led to Cyprus owing millions back to the EU. Turkish Cypriot analysts have voiced their concerns over the EU’s role in reinforcing Greek Cypriot political narratives. As one Turkish Cypriot economist remarked, “The EU’s decision to fund this project is not about energy, it’s about reinforcing the Greek Cypriot narrative that Cyprus is somehow exclusively Greek.”

The Greek Cypriot project also comes on the heels of the €290 million gas terminal failure, raising doubts about the viability of yet another taxpayer-funded endeavor. Critics argue that the TRNC’s partnership with Türkiye offers a more financially sustainable and regionally inclusive alternative, one that avoids the bureaucratic and political entanglements seen in the EU-backed Greek project.

Geopolitical Tensions: Energy and Military Alliances

The Greek Cypriot-Greek-Israeli energy project has far-reaching geopolitical implications, particularly given the military ties between Greece, Israel, and the Greek Cypriots. In recent years, Greece and Israel have conducted joint military exercises with the Greek Cypriot National Guard, heightening tensions with Türkiye. The energy alliance between these three countries is seen as part of a broader strategy to isolate the TRNC and Türkiye from regional energy projects. 

President Tatar has been outspoken in his criticism of these exclusionary energy policies. He remarked, “The Greek Cypriot side continues to push for projects that deliberately exclude us, even when cooperation could bring prosperity to both sides of the island”. In contrast, the TRNC’s partnership with Türkiye reflects a more inclusive approach to energy cooperation, one that could ultimately benefit the entire region if Greek Cypriots were willing to engage in meaningful dialogue.

The Absurdity of Distance: A Reflection on Greek Cypriot Ambitions

The enormous distance between Cyprus and Greece—over 1,200 kilometers—highlights the impracticality of the Great Sea Interconnector project. In comparison, the TRNC’s 85-kilometer link to Türkiye is far more cost-effective and logistically feasible. This vast geographical difference mirrors the absurdity of the Greek Cypriot ambition for Enosis, the union of Cyprus with Greece, which ignored both the island’s proximity to Türkiye and its complex demographic makeup.

As President Tatar remarked, “There are two different communities in Cyprus. The world needs to understand this reality. Cyprus is not Greek, and our future cannot be dictated by the political ambitions of the Greek Cypriot side”. The costly and complex Greek Cypriot project, with its long distance and deep-sea infrastructure, is emblematic of a broader pattern of political posturing, rather than practical, cooperative energy solutions.

A Path Forward: Two-State Solution and Energy Cooperation

At the heart of the energy debate lies the larger question of the island’s political future. The TRNC’s partnership with Türkiye offers a clear model for how energy cooperation can work within the framework of a two-state solution. President Tatar has repeatedly called for energy cooperation between both Cypriot states, stating that “energy is one area where we can find common ground. If the Greek Cypriots were willing to work with us, we could build a shared energy future that benefits both sides of the island”.

Unfortunately, the Greek Cypriot administration remains focused on exclusionary energy projects that reflect broader geopolitical aims. The TRNC, by contrast, is committed to building sustainable and practical partnerships with its natural ally, Türkiye. As Prof. Dr. Murat Fahrioglu noted, the technically ready Türkiye-TRNC electricity connection will bring "higher energy efficiency, better grid stability, and the potential for renewable energy integration, benefiting the entire island".

TCE Conclusion: The TRNC Sets the Standard

The Greek Cypriot energy strategy, centered around the Great Sea Interconnector, is a costly and geopolitically motivated project that pales in comparison to the TRNC’s more pragmatic and sustainable partnership with Türkiye. As President Tatar succinctly put it, “Our path is with Türkiye, and no amount of political posturing from the Greek side will change that”. The TRNC’s energy policy is not only practical but also a reflection of a future in which the two Cypriot states can coexist peacefully under a two-state solution, sharing the island’s resources for the benefit of all its inhabitants.

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References:
- Daily Sabah - TRNC Energy Cooperation with Türkiye
- Anadolu Agency - TRNC Electricity Connection
- TRNC Presidency - President Tatar Statements