TRNC Foreign Ministry Condemns French Military Aircraft Overflights Near Lefke

The Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) Ministry of Foreign Affairs has strongly condemned the unauthorized entry of French military aircraft into TRNC airspace. The planes, stationed in Paphos, were observed flying over the Lefke region, sparking significant concern among local residents.

According to the ministry’s statement, "French military aircraft, stationed in Paphos under the 'Defense Cooperation Agreement' signed between the Republic of Cyprus and France in 2017, violated TRNC airspace on December 20."

The statement further emphasized that "the low-altitude flights over Lefke caused serious distress among the public and posed a potential threat to human safety."

The ministry criticized ongoing Greek Cypriot efforts to militarize the region, stating, "For a long time, the Greek Cypriot administration has entered into bilateral military agreements, falsely portraying the island as facing a 'security threat' and thereby escalating tensions in the region. We want to stress that we will never permit this so-called strategic partnership and military support for the Republic of Cyprus to endanger the peace and security of the Turkish Cypriot people."

The TRNC Foreign Ministry called on all parties, especially France, to reconsider their actions. "We urge France, in particular, to immediately halt military activities that undermine regional stability and to approach the situation with common sense and responsibility," the statement concluded.