Turkey justifies the deployment of F-16 fighters to Northern Cyprus

Omer Celik, spokesperson for the AKP party, stated that the recent deployment of Turkish F-16 fighter jets to the self-proclaimed Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) is a measure to ensure security. Celik framed the move as an exercise of Turkey's role as a guarantor power for the entire island, claiming the presence of these aircraft serves to protect the area against perceived unlawful attacks. He explicitly rejected European criticism regarding the deployment, characterizing the actions of various European states, such as France and the Netherlands, as biased support for the Greek Cypriot side. Celik further argued that European states are increasing their military presence in the region due to the shifting geopolitical landscape following the conflict with Iran. Conversely, European nations and the Republic of Cyprus view such military maneuvers as escalatory. The Turkish official concluded by questioning the existing military alignment between the Republic of Cyprus and Israel, labeling it as a source of regional instability.