Cyprus Official Warns of Turkey's Regional Ambitions, Condemns Threat to Invade Israel

Konstantinos Letymbiotis, the official government spokesperson for Cyprus, expresses concern over Turkey's increasing regional influence and military aggression, particularly Ankara's recent threat to invade Israel.

Cyprus's official government spokesperson, Konstantinos Letymbiotis, has condemned Turkey's recent threat to invade Israel over the Gaza Strip, calling it a serious threat that cannot be ignored by the international community.

Letymbiotis highlighted the long history of Turkey's illegal occupation of 37% of Cyprus's territory, emphasizing that his country knows the devastating consequences of such actions. Turkey's threat to invade Israel, he said, is a continuation of its aggressive expansionist policies under President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan.

Cyprus Official Warns of Turkey's Regional Ambitions, Condemns Threat to Invade Israel

Erdoğan has repeatedly made provocative statements, suggesting that Turkey may intervene in Palestine and elsewhere to protect its interests. Letymbiotis criticized Turkey's "Turkification" of occupied Cyprus, including changing geographical names and destroying cultural heritage, as evidence of its neo-Ottoman ambitions.

He also noted the irony that Turkey's threats to Israel came at a time when Cyprus is playing a key role in delivering humanitarian aid to Gaza. Cyprus has established a sea route to provide aid to Gazans, an initiative praised by the European Union and the United States.

Cyprus Official Warns of Turkey's Regional Ambitions, Condemns Threat to Invade Israel

Letymbiotis expressed hope that Cyprus's growing cooperation with the US will strengthen its standing and global perception, leading to further advancements. However, he acknowledged the challenges posed by Turkey's NATO membership, which gives Ankara veto power that it has used to block Sweden's accession to the alliance.

Cyprus has forged close ties with other nations that have faced Turkey's regional ambitions, such as Armenia. Letymbiotis pointed to Turkey's expulsion of Armenians from Karabakh last year and its ongoing aggression against Cyprus as examples of Erdoğan's dangerous agenda.

Cyprus Official Warns of Turkey's Regional Ambitions, Condemns Threat to Invade Israel

The Cyprus government's condemnation of Turkey's threats and its support for international efforts to deliver aid to Gaza demonstrate its commitment to peace and stability in the region. However, Letymbiotis stressed that Turkey's expansionist ambitions remain a serious threat that must be addressed by the international community.