Cyprus to Build New Naval Base Half a Century After Invasion

Fifty years after the 1974 Turkish invasion and ongoing occupation of approximately 40 percent of Cyprus, the island nation is embarking on a significant upgrade and expansion of the "Evangelos Florakis" naval base with support from Greece. On July 17, Vasilis Palmas, the Defense Minister of the Republic of Cyprus, announced these plans, which aim to enhance the island's naval capabilities and its geo-strategic position in the Eastern Mediterranean..The expansion of the Evangelos Florakis naval base is a strategic move intended to bolster Cyprus's role as a key hub for humanitarian aid delivery to Gaza under the US and EU-approved Amalthia Initiative. With Greece providing technical expertise and assistance, this project is set to enhance Cyprus's geo-strategic position in the Eastern Mediterranean amid increasing geopolitical tensions in the region. The upgrade aligns with past agreements allowing the French Navy permanent access to the base and, more recently, a scheduled visit by the USS Arleigh Burke destroyer on April 9 during its deployment with the Bataan Amphibious Ready Group in the region..Cyprus's aeronautical capabilities have been desperately lacking in the 50 years since the invasion. Despite significant modernization efforts for the Cypriot National Guard, the balance of power remains heavily skewed in favor of the 43,000 occupational troops, heavy armor, and artillery commanded by Ankara's occupation garrison, the "Cyprus Turkish Peace Force Command." This precarious situation necessitates strong support from Greece to ensure the survival of the Republic of Cyprus in the event of an attempted expansion of the occupation zone southwards..Facing insurmountable odds necessitating conditions of total war across the Greek-Cypriot society, the National Guard would be up against a more modern and quantitatively superior force stationed only a few miles from the UN-administered buffer zone. Lacking any strategic depth and natural defenses but for the Troodos mountains, if the situation escalated, the Republic would be facing the single gravest existential threat since its founding..The Evangelos Florakis naval base currently houses Cyprus's limited naval assets, consisting of 21 patrol vessels as of 2021. The planned upgrades will lay the groundwork for a modern, battle-ready Cypriot navy and provide docking and servicing facilities for the naval forces of allied nations such as France, Israel, Egypt, the US, and Greece. This development is crucial for establishing an aeronautical bridge across the Eastern Mediterranean, enhancing Cyprus's power projection and establishing a doctrine for extended deterrence from Athens to Nicosia..Greece's upcoming procurement of 40 F-35 fighter jets and new multipurpose frigates by 2025-2026 could further solidify the defense collaboration between Greece and Cyprus. Reviving the Common Defense Area doctrine, initially adopted in 1993, would offer a substantial guarantee for Cyprus's defense in the face of Turkish threats in the face of the diplomatic roadblock in reunification talks..The presence of at least 50 Turkish naval units, including the flagship helicopter and drone carrier TGC Anadolu, underscores the ongoing security challenges Cyprus faces. This anniversary tour de force, marking half a century of Turkish occupation, serves as a stark reminder of the persistent threat and the need for credible deterrence and defense measures in the absence of a lasting political settlement that upholds the Republic's sovereignty and independence.