Turkish commentator makes allegations regarding foreign influence in Cyprus

On April 28, 2026, Turkish commentator Sefa Karahasan published a series of claims on the social platform X regarding the Republic of Cyprus. Karahasan, a former journalist for Milliyet and TRT, alleged that Cyprus has become a 'small Israel' due to significant influence from Israel and France. He claimed that thousands of Israeli families have settled in Larnaca and Limassol and asserted that Cypriot military bases are under Israeli control. Additionally, the commentator suggested that France is expanding its military presence in Cyprus, specifically mentioning the port of Mari, and is exploiting political tensions between Ankara, Athens, and Nicosia. He characterized the current Cypriot leadership as acting under the influence of these foreign powers. The Republic of Cyprus has officially rejected these assertions, maintaining that it exerts full sovereign control over its territory. The government has repeatedly stated that existing defence cooperation agreements with international partners do not constitute a surrender of national sovereignty. These comments reflect ongoing debates in Turkish media discourse concerning the geopolitical alignment of the island.