As tensions increase between Turkey and Greece in the eastern Mediterranean over gas and oil exploration rights in the area both powers have claimed, the US has thrown its weight behind the Greek Cypriots thus upsetting the balance in the region, says a Turkish expert.
On 12 September, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo inked a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Greek Cypriot administration which envisages the creation of a regional border security training hub – the Cyprus Centre for Land, Open Seas and Port Security (CYCLOPS) in Larnaca.
The Turkish government slammed the MoU, stressing that the memo ignores a de facto state in the north-eastern portion of the island – the self-declared Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC). “The memorandum of understanding will not serve peace and stability in the eastern Mediterranean and will damage the solution of the Cyprus problem,” Turkey's Foreign Ministry stated on Monday.
‘US is Mistaking Turkey for a Child'
During his trip to Cyprus, Pompeo touched upon the escalation of tensions in the eastern Mediterranean, urging Turkey to resolve the stand-off through diplomatic means.
“The United States is deeply concerned about Turkey's actions in the eastern Mediterranean”, Pompeo remarked on Saturday. “Countries in the region need to resolve disagreements including on security and energy resource and maritime issues diplomatically and peacefully. Increased military tensions help no…
