Turkish naval vessels to visit northern Cyprus during EU summit in Ayia Napa

On April 23, 2026, the Turkish Navy will deploy the submarine TCG Gür (S-357) to the port of Kyrenia and the fast attack craft TCG İmbat (P-335) to the port of Famagusta. These visits are scheduled in observance of Turkey's National Sovereignty and Children's Day, which commemorates the 1920 founding of the Grand National Assembly. The vessels will be open to visitors between 10:00-12:00 and 14:00-17:00. This deployment coincides with an informal summit of European Union leaders taking place in Ayia Napa, located in the Republic of Cyprus. While the Turkish military cites the national holiday as the reason for the port calls, Greek Cypriot media sources note the geographical proximity of the military presence to the diplomatic event. The summit in Ayia Napa is expected to host 25 European heads of state and government. There are no reports of disruption to the summit proceedings, though the timing of the naval presence has been highlighted by local media.