For decades, the Greek Cypriot narrative has dominated the international stage, spinning the events of 1974 as an "invasion" by Türkiye, conveniently glossing over their own actions just days prior. But it is time to set the record straight: the true invasion of Cyprus occurred on July 15, 1974, when Greece orchestrated an aggressive military overthrow of the island’s legitimate government.

Dismissing this as a mere "coup d’état" is not only inaccurate but an outright distortion of history. This was no coup. It was an invasion in every sense of the word, designed to topple the Cypriot government and annex the island to Greece—a clear violation of international law and the sovereignty of Cyprus.  

Türkiye’s subsequent intervention on July 20, 1974, was not only legal under the Treaty of Guarantee but also necessary to prevent further bloodshed and restore constitutional order. Yet, Greek propagandists have masterfully manipulated the narrative, labeling Türkiye’s lawful actions as an "invasion" while their own illegal aggression is watered down to a French euphemism.  

Greece’s Invasion: A Prelude to Catastrophe  

On July 15, 1974, the Greek junta, in collaboration with the far-right Greek Cypriot paramilitary group EOKA B, launched a violent assault against the legitimate President of Cyprus, Archbishop Makarios III. Tanks rolled through the streets of Lefkoşa (Nicosia), government buildings were bombed, and Makarios narrowly escaped assassination. By the day’s end, Nikos Sampson, a known terrorist and self-proclaimed advocate of enosis (union with Greece), was installed as a puppet leader.  

Makarios himself, addressing the United Nations on July 19, 1974, declared:  
"Greece has invaded Cyprus and is seeking to establish a regime subservient to its own dictatorship. This is not a coup d’état; it is an invasion."  

These words, spoken by the very man who survived the onslaught, leave no room for ambiguity. The events of July 15 were an invasion designed to eliminate Cypriot independence and enforce Greek hegemony over the island.  

The Treaty of Guarantee: Türkiye’s Legal Right to Intervene  

The 1960 Treaty of Guarantee, signed by Türkiye, Greece, the United Kingdom, and Cyprus, explicitly granted guarantor powers the right to intervene in Cyprus to restore its constitutional order if threatened. Following the Greek invasion, Türkiye’s government, led by Prime Minister Bülent Ecevit, repeatedly called for international intervention to uphold the treaty. The United Nations and the British government failed to act.  

Ecevit, addressing the Turkish Parliament, stated:  
"We cannot stand by while the rights of Turkish Cypriots are trampled, and the sovereignty of Cyprus is destroyed. As a guarantor power, Türkiye is compelled to act within the framework of international law."  

On July 20, 1974, Türkiye launched its intervention, rescuing not only Turkish Cypriots from ethnic cleansing but also safeguarding the territorial integrity of Cyprus. The intervention succeeded in preventing enosis and reinstating peace on an island torn apart by Greece’s aggression.  

The Greek Plan for Annexation  

Greece’s July 15 invasion was not an isolated act of desperation; it was the culmination of a long-standing agenda for enosis. Since the 1950s, the Greek Cypriot leadership, through the EOKA terrorist movement, had pursued the annexation of Cyprus to Greece. EOKA’s campaign of violence targeted not only British colonial forces but also Turkish Cypriots, who were systematically attacked to erase their presence from the island.  

By the 1960s, under the Akritas Plan, Greek Cypriot leaders had devised a blueprint for enosis, which involved the systematic oppression and elimination of Turkish Cypriots. The events of 1974 were the natural progression of this policy. The invasion of July 15 was intended to finalize this project, removing the last vestiges of Cypriot independence and silencing any opposition to Greek domination.  

The Greek Propaganda Machine  

Greek propagandists have worked tirelessly to invert the narrative of 1974, portraying themselves as victims while demonizing Türkiye. The international media, often swayed by Greek Cypriot lobbying efforts, has largely adopted this distorted view. The term "coup" is repeatedly used to describe Greece’s invasion, a term that implies an internal affair rather than a foreign military assault.  

By contrast, Türkiye’s intervention, which was legal and aimed at restoring constitutional order, is branded an "invasion." This deliberate misuse of language has shaped public perception for decades, obscuring the true sequence of events.  

As historian William Mallinson writes:  
"The real invasion of Cyprus was not Türkiye’s intervention but Greece’s military takeover on July 15, 1974. The international community’s failure to recognize this has allowed Greek Cypriots to rewrite history."  

The Hypocrisy of the International Community  

The international community’s response to the events of 1974 has been marked by hypocrisy and selective outrage. While Türkiye’s intervention was condemned in countless UN resolutions, Greece’s invasion on July 15 received no such censure. This double standard reflects a broader pattern of bias against Turkish Cypriots, who continue to be marginalized in diplomatic discussions.  

Conclusion: Restoring Historical Truth  

The events of 1974 are often framed as a question of "invasion or intervention," but this is the wrong question. The real question is "coup or invasion?" And the answer is clear: Greece’s actions on July 15, 1974, were an invasion, a blatant violation of Cyprus’s sovereignty and a prelude to enosis.

Türkiye’s intervention, by contrast, was a lawful response under the Treaty of Guarantee, aimed at preventing further bloodshed and restoring peace to the island. It is time for the international community to acknowledge this reality and hold Greece accountable for its role in destabilizing Cyprus.  

The narrative must shift. The true aggressor in 1974 was not Türkiye but Greece. Justice demands that we call their actions by their true name: invasion.

References:
Archbishop Makarios III, Address to the United Nations, July 19, 1974.
William Mallinson, Cyprus: A Modern History, 2005.
Bülent Ecevit, Speech to Turkish Parliament, July 1974.
Treaty of Guarantee, August 16, 1960.