Increase in Foreign Military Presence in Southern Cyprus
According to the news in Havargi newspaper published in the Greek Cypriot Administration of Southern Cyprus (GCASC), British Royal Navy amphibious operation ships anchored off the coast of Southern Cyprus. The same news claimed that more than 1,000 commandos were on standby at the British airport in Akrotiri, which has sovereign base status in Southern Cyprus.
In the Havargi newspaper’s news titled “Intensity of Foreign Military Forces in Cyprus is Increasing”, the plural form was used for the British amphibious assault ships that have reached the coast of Southern Cyprus, but no information was given about their numbers. Some websites published in Southern Cyprus also reported that they confirmed this news from military sources.
On Friday, the US Navy amphibious assault ship USS Wasp anchored in Limassol Port of the Greek Cypriot Administration. This US warship, which came to Limassol as part of its “port visits,” was protested by opposition parties and some activities. Greek Cypriot Administration Spokesperson Konstantinos Letimbiotis claimed that the recent ship and plane movements in his country were part of the island’s humanitarian role in light of developments in the region.
According to another news report in the TRNC press, a person who went canoeing in the sea off the coast of Limassol city, saw a submarine whose country of origin is not yet known.
Following Israel’s attacks on the Gaza Strip since October 7 and the tensions Israel has experienced with both Iran and Lebanon, the military buildup in the Greek Cypriot Administration by the US and some European countries has been criticized by the press, especially by AKEL, the main opposition in the Greek Cypriot Administration.
