The Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) has issued a strong statement condemning U.S. President Joe Biden’s recent meeting with Greek Cypriot leader Nikos Christodoulides. By engaging exclusively with one side of the island's leadership, the TRNC asserts, Biden’s administration has underscored its bias, jeopardizing efforts to reach a balanced solution to the Cyprus issue. For the TRNC, this diplomatic move exemplifies an entrenched double standard by global powers who continue to support Greek Cypriot ambitions while marginalizing the Turkish Cypriot population’s legitimate right to sovereignty and representation.

In the context of the Cyprus divide, this meeting is not merely a symbolic oversight. It highlights a pattern of exclusion that Turkish Cypriots argue has long stymied peace, stability, and cooperation on the island. By recognizing the Greek Cypriot administration as the sole legitimate government, the international community sidelines an entire population that has, for decades, called for recognition and equal standing. The stakes have now risen, as the TRNC and Türkiye are calling for diplomatic equity and urging international actors to reevaluate their one-sided policies, which have, they contend, only prolonged division and animosity.

TRNC's Response: Calling Out a Pattern of Disregard

In an emphatic response, the TRNC Foreign Ministry condemned Biden’s meeting with Christodoulides, highlighting it as yet another instance of international neglect towards the Turkish Cypriot cause. The ministry’s statement, released following the high-profile meeting, stressed that "no power can ignore the presence and rights of Türkiye and the Turkish Cypriot people in the Eastern Mediterranean." Foreign Minister Tahsin Ertuğruloğlu minced no words, underscoring that the U.S.’s continued support for the Greek Cypriot administration disregards the complex reality on the island and risks disrupting the region’s delicate equilibrium.

Ertuğruloğlu has, in recent months, been vocal about the need for a drastic shift in the international community’s approach to Cyprus. Following Biden’s meeting, he noted, "Any peace process must involve both sides equally if it is to succeed. A unilateral show of support only emboldens the Greek Cypriots to continue their exclusionary policies and maintain their stance as the sole ‘legitimate’ authority on Cyprus.” He further pointed out that the idea of a federated Cyprus—a concept touted by the international community for years—has failed repeatedly, adding, “The future of Cyprus lies in the development of good neighborly relations between two separate states.”1

The TRNC's disappointment in Biden's approach is not only a reflection of U.S.-Greek Cypriot relations but also a broader criticism of the prevailing geopolitical dynamics in the Eastern Mediterranean. "Ignoring our existence and voice serves no one," the ministry statement emphasized. This sentiment is increasingly echoed by Turkish Cypriots who feel that the ongoing diplomatic marginalization only reinforces a false narrative of their status as a "minority" in their own homeland.

U.S. Policy and Its Unintended Consequences

The TRNC has repeatedly warned of the risks associated with what they perceive as the U.S.’s growing inclination toward the Greek Cypriot side. According to Ertuğruloğlu, such gestures undermine the prospects of a fair solution by emboldening the Greek Cypriot administration. He further alleged that the Greek Cypriot side, bolstered by support from the U.S., has begun to see itself as a de facto regional player, even imagining itself as a substitute for Türkiye in the Eastern Mediterranean. "This overreach," he stated, "only fans the flames of discord."

The TRNC's Foreign Minister also challenged the U.S. to question the sincerity of the Greek Cypriot administration in pursuing genuine peace. "When the U.S. signals its support for the Greek Cypriots without even a nod to Turkish Cypriots, it is essentially saying that our voice does not matter. What incentive does that give to the Greek Cypriot side to seek an equitable solution?” he questioned. Ertuğruloğlu called for an immediate end to what he termed the U.S.’s “encouragement” of the Greek Cypriot administration’s unilateralism, warning that such behavior would only deepen the divide rather than bridge it.

Calls for Equal Representation: The Heart of the TRNC’s Demand

At the core of the TRNC’s stance is the demand for equal recognition and treatment in international forums and diplomatic engagements. The Turkish Cypriot leadership argues that this principle of equality is non-negotiable and must be upheld if any solution is to be durable. “We are not an ethnic minority; we are a people with our own identity, culture, and history,” stated Ertuğruloğlu. The TRNC is adamant that it is the sole legitimate representative of the Turkish Cypriot population and deserves the same recognition granted to its southern counterpart.

While Turkish Cypriots have been vocal about their grievances, their calls have largely gone unanswered by the international community. The TRNC has, in recent years, strengthened its demand for a two-state solution, arguing that the prospect of a federation is a “fantasy” that has failed to produce results. In Ertuğruloğlu’s words, “The world needs to recognize that the two-state solution is not a radical demand but a realistic path toward peace.”

Regional Reactions and the Broader Implications for the Eastern Mediterranean

Türkiye, which has consistently advocated for the TRNC on the international stage, also reacted sharply to the U.S.’s diplomatic overture toward the Greek Cypriot leader. Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan criticized the move, remarking, “Lasting peace in Cyprus can only be achieved by recognizing the equal status of both parties.” He warned that excluding the Turkish Cypriots from high-level discussions would “fuel resentment” and complicate any efforts toward reconciliation. Türkiye’s position reinforces a strategic outlook that sees Cyprus not only as a bilateral issue but as a focal point in the Eastern Mediterranean balance of power.

Political observers have also voiced concerns about the consequences of neglecting Turkish Cypriot representation. Dr. Ahmet Sözen, a political scientist at Eastern Mediterranean University, noted, “By ignoring Turkish Cypriot voices, the international community is creating a fertile ground for discord and instability.” Dr. Sözen emphasized that for sustainable peace, both sides of Cyprus must be treated equally in all international and diplomatic engagements. “This persistent exclusion only strengthens divisions and weakens any prospect of meaningful negotiation,” he added, reflecting a widely held view among Turkish Cypriots who feel sidelined.

Path Forward: Dialogue Rooted in Equality and Mutual Respect

Despite the latest setback, the TRNC remains committed to dialogue—provided it is rooted in equality and mutual respect. President Ersin Tatar underscored this point, stating that his administration is “open to meaningful talks that recognize the sovereignty and equality of Turkish Cypriots.” Tatar emphasized that anything less would be “an affront to our people’s dignity.”2

He further urged international actors to reconsider their stance on Cyprus, arguing that the island’s issues are not just regional but have wider implications. “Peace in Cyprus is more than a local issue; it’s a matter of regional and global stability,” Tatar said. He called for an inclusive approach where Turkish Cypriots and Greek Cypriots could engage as equals, with both communities’ aspirations recognized and respected. “Only through an equal dialogue can we hope to achieve a genuine peace,” he added.

TCE Conclusion: A Call for Balanced Diplomacy and Inclusive Dialogue

The recent meeting between President Biden and Greek Cypriot leader Christodoulides has highlighted a fundamental flaw in the international approach to Cyprus: the persistent exclusion of the Turkish Cypriot side. This bias, Turkish Cypriots argue, has only served to embolden Greek Cypriot leaders, leading them to believe that they alone represent Cyprus and that Turkish Cypriot perspectives are inconsequential. As the TRNC leadership has pointed out, this approach does little to further the cause of peace. Instead, it reinforces existing divisions and perpetuates a longstanding narrative of marginalization and inequality.

The international community now faces a choice: to continue down the path of unilateral support or to adopt a balanced approach that acknowledges the aspirations of both Turkish Cypriots and Greek Cypriots. For Turkish Cypriots, the message is clear: sustainable peace is unattainable without recognizing the inherent rights and aspirations of their community. Anything less, they assert, is not just an oversight but a denial of their identity and a betrayal of the principles of justice and equality.

The path to reconciliation in Cyprus is fraught with challenges, but it is a path that can only be navigated through an inclusive dialogue that respects both sides equally. The TRNC and Türkiye’s message is unambiguous: the time has come for the world to recognize the Turkish Cypriot people’s right to sovereignty and equality. Anything less is not a solution but a perpetuation of the problem.

References

1. "TRNC Slams Biden's Meeting with Greek Cypriot Leader," Yeni Şafak, November 1, 2024.

2. "US Advisor Praises 'Excellent' Biden-Christodoulides Meeting," Cyprus Mail, November 1, 2024. 

3. "Foreign Minister Ertuğruloğlu: 'We Demand Equal Treatment'," Hürriyet Daily News, November 1, 2024.

4. "Turkey Criticizes U.S. Stance on Cyprus," Republic of Turkey Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Press Release No: 292, November 1, 2024.

5. Interview with Dr. Ahmet Sözen, CNN Türk, November 1, 2024.