ANKARA — As a new Lebanon-Cyprus maritime deal deepens Turkey’s isolation in the Eastern Mediterranean, experts say Ankara has little choice but to turn to Syria as a counterweight for a potential future delimitation agreement.

The maritime and exclusive economic zone delimitation agreements signed between Lebanon and the Republic of Cyprus on Nov. 26 not only advance bilateral cooperation between Nicosia and Beirut but also further isolate Turkey and Turkish Cypriots amid a growing Greece-Cyprus-Israel alignment.

Cyprus remains divided between the Republic of Cyprus and the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, recognized only by Ankara, since Turkey’s 1974 military intervention following a Greek-backed coup that was aimed at uniting the island with Greece. Turkey, Greece and the United Kingdom continue to serve as guarantor powers under a complex security arrangement that was established when Cyprus gained independence in 1960. 

The maritime deal is the Republic of Cyprus’ third such accord with regional neighbors, following agreements with Egypt in 2003 and Israel in 2010, despite Ankara’s long-standing objections that any unilateral delimitation by the Republic of Cyprus ignores the rights of Turkish Cypriots and therefore lacks international legitimacy.