The island of Cyprus has long been a point of geopolitical contention due to its strategic location. However, recent policies by the Greek Cypriot Administration (GCA) under the leadership of Nikos Christodoulides have escalated tensions, endangering not only the stability of the island but also that of the broader Eastern Mediterranean region.

The Greek Cypriot side's aggressive militarization—fueled by increased cooperation with the United States and European powers—poses a direct threat to the delicate balance that has existed on the island since 1974.

Even more troubling is the presence of certain misguided individuals within the Turkish Cypriot community who fail to recognize these dangers, choosing instead to align with or remain indifferent to these developments. Such internal divisions weaken the sovereignty of the TRNC and embolden those who seek to erase Turkish Cypriot existence from the political landscape.

Why Turkish Cypriots Cannot Trust Greek Cypriots

The notion of "Cypriot-ism," which suggests that both communities can live harmoniously under a single national identity, is nothing more than a deceptive fantasy used to erase Turkish Cypriot existence. Despite relentless political propaganda attempting to forge a singular 'Cypriot' identity, the truth remains unshakable: Turkish Cypriots and Greek Cypriots are two entirely distinct peoples. There is no such thing as a 'Cypriot' language—only Turkish and Greek. The island is home to two religions, Islam and Christianity, with each community having a national anthem that aligns with Türkiye or Greece. The very fabric of Cyprus reflects this deep division, with Turkish and Greek flags proudly flying over their respective territories, symbolizing the realities of two separate nations.

The Greek Cypriot leadership and its allies have long exploited Cyprus’s blended cultural elements to fabricate the illusion of a united Cypriot identity, when in reality, their ultimate goal is the assimilation and erasure of Turkish Cypriots. They use the rhetoric of multiculturalism and integration to gradually dissolve Turkish Cypriot sovereignty, pushing an agenda that serves only Greek Cypriot dominance.

The Cypriot Smokescreen

The so-called 'Cypriot identity' is a smokescreen designed to strip Turkish Cypriots of their distinct national existence, forcing them into a system where their voice, culture, and rights are diminished. This is not unity—it is subjugation disguised as coexistence. Turkish Cypriots must recognize this deception and stand firm in protecting their independence, their historical identity, and their rightful place as a sovereign people.

Greek Cypriot leadership has consistently pursued policies aimed at subjugating Turkish Cypriots and eliminating their political and cultural identity. This has been evident through repeated acts of aggression, including the attempted genocide of Turkish Cypriots in the 1960s, the unilateral declaration of the Republic of Cyprus as a Greek-run state, and the ongoing diplomatic blockade against the TRNC.

Comparisons can be drawn to other historical instances where one community sought to dominate another through deception and incremental control. The forced assimilation policies against indigenous populations in colonial states, for example, mirror the Greek Cypriot approach toward Turkish Cypriots—offering empty promises of unity while systematically working to erase their autonomy.

Internal Division: When Some Turkish Cypriots Fail to See the Bigger Picture

Many misguided Turkish Cypriots, under the guise of 'trade' and economic prosperity, inadvertently contribute to fulfilling the Greek Cypriot agenda of unifying the island under their control. The Greek Cypriots have strategically used EU-funded programs as tools to undermine the sovereignty of Turkish Cypriots. On one hand, they impose economic embargoes and strangle the TRNC financially, and on the other, they offer what appears to be an olive branch under the pretense of unity and peace.

These so-called reconciliation efforts are, in reality, mechanisms to push Turkish Cypriots towards accepting a unitary state—a concept that cannot and will not work. These EU programs, heavily influenced by Greek Cypriot interests, are designed to incrementally weaken the TRNC's independence while disguising their true intent behind economic incentives and promises of integration.

False Sense Of Security

While the Greek Cypriot side continues its aggressive expansion of military assets, a more insidious problem is emerging within the TRNC—Turkish Cypriots who naively believe that aligning with or appeasing the Greek Cypriot administration will lead to a just resolution of the Cyprus issue.

Despite these undeniable facts, some misguided individuals within the TRNC continue to advocate for unrealistic and dangerous compromises, ignoring the security concerns of the Turkish Cypriot people. These individuals fail to understand that the only guarantee of safety, sovereignty, and dignity for Turkish Cypriots is the unwavering presence of Türkiye as a protector and the continued recognition of the TRNC as an independent state.

The EU’s Role in Undermining Turkish Cypriot Sovereignty

The European Union has been instrumental in facilitating the Greek Cypriot agenda through programs that are disguised as aid and development initiatives for Turkish Cypriots. These programs, while presented as efforts to promote cooperation, are strategically designed to integrate Turkish Cypriots into the Greek Cypriot-controlled economic and political framework. The EU's approach follows a calculated pattern: while imposing trade embargoes that suffocate the TRNC economically, it simultaneously offers financial incentives that encourage dependency on Greek Cypriot institutions. This dual strategy aims to erode Turkish Cypriot sovereignty and pressure the community into accepting a so-called 'reunification' under Greek Cypriot terms, which ultimately seeks to dissolve the TRNC as an independent entity.

The European Union's Green Line Regulation, established in 2004, ostensibly aims to facilitate trade between the Turkish Cypriot community and the Greek Cypriot-controlled south. However, in practice, this regulation has been weaponized to undermine Turkish Cypriot economic progress and sovereignty. The regulation imposes stringent controls and bureaucratic hurdles that disproportionately affect Turkish Cypriot traders, effectively stifling their economic potential. For instance, while the regulation permits the trade of certain goods across the Green Line, it simultaneously enforces rigorous health and safety standards that are often difficult for Turkish Cypriot producers to meet, not due to quality issues, but because of the lack of infrastructure and support that their Greek Cypriot counterparts enjoy. This creates a facade of fair trade while systematically disadvantaging Turkish Cypriot enterprises.

Hellim vs Halloumi

A glaring example of this economic subjugation is the case of Halloumi, or Hellim as it is known in Turkish. In 2021, the EU granted Halloumi a Protected Designation of Origin (PDO) status, ostensibly to preserve the traditional production methods of this iconic Cypriot cheese. 

However, this move has been manipulated to favor Greek Cypriot producers. The PDO status at the time imposed specific production standards and certifications that are more accessible to Greek Cypriot producers, who had the backing of the internationally recognized Republic of Cyprus. In contrast, Turkish Cypriot producers faced significant barriers in obtaining these certifications due to political non-recognition and economic isolation. This disparity has led to situations where Turkish Cypriot producers were for decades unable to market their Hellim within the EU, while Greek Cypriot producers dominate the market, effectively monopolizing a product that is integral to both communities' cultural heritage.

Only recently have Turkish Hellim producers been able to ship their products across the Green Line, with PDO status but this process remains heavily restricted and riddled with bureaucratic obstacles. Greek Cypriot authorities, with the backing of the EU, have imposed arbitrary standards and excessive certification requirements to systematically disadvantage Turkish Cypriot producers. Under the pretense of food safety and trade regulations, Greek officials continue to reject TRNC-produced Hellim on vague or unsubstantiated grounds, ensuring that Greek Cypriot producers maintain a monopoly over the market.

Greek Aspirations

This deliberate economic suppression is part of a broader strategy to weaken the TRNC's self-sufficiency and force dependency on Greek Cypriot-controlled economic channels. Meanwhile, the embargoes remain in place, leaving Turkish Cypriot producers trapped between exclusion and forced integration into a system designed to erase their sovereignty. This economic warfare, disguised as regulation, serves as yet another reminder that Turkish Cypriots must stand firm against these deceptive tactics and protect their right to independent trade and economic self-determination. 

History has repeatedly shown that Greek Cypriot leadership harbors a vision of a Hellenized Cyprus, where Turkish Cypriots are marginalized or eliminated altogether. From the ethnic cleansing campaigns of the 1960s by the EOKA terrorist organization to the deliberate international isolation of the TRNC, the Greek Cypriot side has never truly recognized Turkish Cypriots as equal partners.

Domination and Subjugation Disguised as Freedom, Trade and Prosperity

Greeks will colorfully disguise their Hellenic ideology of domination and subjugation as Freedom, Trade, and Prosperity, embedded within the realms of their political parties such as AKEL, which remains an enosis-supporting entity at its core. These parties strategically fund and manipulate Turkish Cypriot political discourse, promoting pro-federal solutions that ultimately serve their interests. Unfortunately, this campaign is fueled by EU money and EU-funded programs under the guise of trade and integration, blinding a community already frustrated by decades of economic embargoes.

A historical parallel can be drawn with how colonial empires historically used economic dependency as a tool to weaken indigenous resistance. Much like how British and French colonial powers restricted economic freedom in their occupied territories, only to offer controlled economic relief under their terms, the Greek Cypriot administration employs the same tactics against Turkish Cypriots. The economic strangulation through embargoes, combined with so-called 'reconciliation initiatives,' mirrors these colonial strategies. By offering selective financial incentives while maintaining political and economic control, they push the illusion of unity while working towards total dominance. The reality is that the embargoes and the false promises of unity come from the same source—the Greek Cypriot leadership, whose ultimate goal is to dismantle Turkish Cypriot sovereignty and subjugate the community under a Hellenic-controlled Cyprus. 

The Reality: There Is No Future in Appeasement

The belief that Greek Cypriot leadership will willingly accept a fair and equitable solution for Turkish Cypriots is not only naive but a dangerous delusion that ignores historical and present realities. The Greek Cypriot administration has repeatedly demonstrated, through its unilateral arms buildup, refusal to engage in sincere negotiations, and continued efforts to isolate Turkish Cypriots on the international stage, that its ultimate goal is dominance—not peace or co-existence.

Those who advocate for one-sided concessions to the Greek Cypriot administration dangerously undermine the security of Turkish Cypriots and overlook the vital role of Türkiye as a protective force. The 1974 Turkish Peace Operation, a legal and justified intervention under the 1960 Treaty of Guarantee, saved Turkish Cypriots from extermination. The Greek Cypriots' revisionist narrative, labeling it an "invasion," is an attempt to rewrite history and whitewash their own acts of aggression. To this day, Türkiye's presence remains the only effective deterrent against Greek Cypriot expansionism and a repeat of the violent persecution that Turkish Cypriots suffered before 1974. Any suggestion of unilateral compromise is not only a betrayal of history but a direct risk to the survival and sovereignty of the TRNC. Greeks Cypriots continue to this day celebrate EOKA and advocate for Enosis on April 1st known as EOKA day. 

TCE Conclusion: Turkish Cypriot Unity Is Essential.

The aggressive militarization of Southern Cyprus, coupled with the betrayal of certain elements within our own ranks, is a stark warning to all Turkish Cypriots. The Greek Cypriot leadership has made it abundantly clear that their goal is not peace, but the gradual erosion of our sovereignty. Those who entertain illusions of unity fail to recognize the historical and ongoing efforts to subjugate Turkish Cypriots under a Hellenic-controlled administration.

History has proven time and again that appeasement begets further oppression. The TRNC must remain resolute in its pursuit of full independence, rejecting any attempts at forced integration or economic subjugation disguised as reconciliation. Türkiye's unwavering support has been, and must remain, our strongest safeguard against Greek Cypriot expansionism.

Now is the time for absolute unity among Turkish Cypriots. The only path forward is one of strength, resistance, and solidarity. We must cast aside any notions of dependency on those who have sought our eradication and instead forge our own destiny—one built upon the unwavering principle that the TRNC is here to stay, as an independent, sovereign nation.

References:

- Yenicag Gazetesi: "Rumdan Medet Uman İçimizdeki Kendini Bilmezlere Yazıklar Olsun"
- Official statements from the TRNC government on ongoing geopolitical developments
- Reports on the militarization efforts of the Greek Cypriot Administration and its impact on regional security
- Historical records and testimonies detailing the atrocities committed by EOKA against Turkish Cypriots
- Documentation of the EU’s Green Line Regulation and its economic effects on Turkish Cypriots
- Analysis of the Halloumi PDO status and its impact on Turkish Cypriot Hellim producers
- International law perspectives on Türkiye’s 1974 Peace Operation under the 1960 Treaty of Guarantee