Why Turkey wants a permanent naval base in Northern Cyprus
With the heated atmosphere in the eastern Mediterranean because of the Syrian crisis and the rivalry over hydrocarbon reserves, Turkey’s desire to install a permanent naval base in Northern Cyprus is being debated.
International waters of the eastern Mediterranean Sea are running out of free space and becoming more crowded with elements of the US 6th Fleet, a plethora of naval vessels with the Russian Mediterranean Task Force, UK submarines, French frigates and others. The crisis in Syria and rivalry over hydrocarbon reserves are the main causes of this unprecedented military naval concentration and activity.
Rising tensions and naval movements have rekindled the debate in Turkey on whether to set up a permanent naval base in the Turkish part of Cyprus (the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, or Northern Cyprus). According to reports leaked to Turkish media, the Turkish navy has submitted a report and recommendation to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on the urgent need to set up a naval base at an appropriate location there.
The report noted that — in addition to ensuring the sovereign rights of Northern Cyprus — such a naval base would also guard the rights and interests of Northern Cyprus and Turkey in the eastern Mediterranean, prevent violations of maritime energy zones, and equip Northern Cyprus and Turkey with stronger cards in any negotiations that may resume. The recommendation suggests the proposed naval base should be modeled after the sovereign British naval base in Cyprus.
Unidentified security sources in Ankara confirmed discussion of the idea in the upper levels of the government. Also noticed are the more than usual references by Turkish decision-makers to the sovereign rights of Turkey in the eastern Mediterranean. Turkey has actually been carrying out Operation Mediterranean Shield since 2006 to defend its national interests in the eastern Mediterranean.
