ANKARA — Turkey criticized the United States Thursday over US warships anchoring at a port in Cyprus.
In a statement, the Turkish Foreign Ministry accused Washington of disrupting the balance of power in the eastern Mediterranean. “The steps taken in the region by the US which disrupt the balance at the expense of the Turkish Cypriot side damage [United States's] long-standing neutral position,” the statement read, adding, “We invite the US to reconsider these policies.”
The island has been ethnically divided between Turkish and Greek Cypriots since a Greek military coup and Turkey’s military intervention in 1974. The Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus is only recognized by Ankara, while the Greek-controlled Republic of Cyprus is internationally recognized.
The US destroyer USS Arleigh Burke is docked at Cyprus’ main Limassol port, according to The Associated Press.
