Published On 4/28/2026
The Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus warned of the intention of the southern part of the island (the Greek Republic of Cyprus) to deploy French forces on the island, describing the step as extremely dangerous.
The Turkish Prime Minister of Northern Cyprus, Onal Ostell, said that the statements of the President of (Greek) Cyprus, Nikos Christodoulides, regarding the deployment of French soldiers in the south of the island were a “provocative and unacceptable step,” warning that it would greatly harm peace and stability on the island.
Ostell added, “Christodoulides and those who follow his approach are talking about a new negotiation on the one hand, and on the other hand they are ignoring the Turkish Cypriot people,” noting that what he described as a “contradictory position” clearly reveals “true intentions.”
He stressed that the approval of the Turkish Cypriot people is necessary for any military presence or action on the island, and that any step taken without the approval of the Turkish Cypriots will be invalid and annulled under international law.
On Sunday, Christodoulides announced that the (Greek) Republic of Cyprus will sign an agreement with France next June, allowing the deployment of French forces south of the island.
Since 1974, Cyprus has been divided between two parts: Turkish in the north and Greek in the south. In 2004, the Greek Cypriots rejected a plan presented by the United Nations to unify the two parts of the island.
Since the collapse of the UN-sponsored Cyprus reunification talks in Crans Montana, Switzerland, in July 2017, no formal UN-brokered negotiations have taken place to settle the conflict on the island.
