The Atlantic Alliance’s Cyprus Plan

Abstract

The Atlantic Alliance, consisting of the US, the UK and EU, has expanded its membership and sphere of influence in recent years with Israel’s unofficial participation. Although the strategic objectives of the Atlantic Alliance and Israel (AA-I) regarding the island of Cyprus began to emerge in 1967, they became clear and evident after the Cyprus Peace Operation on July 20, 1974, with the arms embargo imposed by the US on Türkiye. The main objective of the Annan Plan Referendum held in Cyprus on April 24, 2004, was to bring the island under the control of the Greek Cypriot and Hellenic alliance, to sever Türkiye’s ties with the island of Cyprus, and to ensure that Turkish troops also leave the island, bringing the entire island of Cyprus and its Exclusive Economic Zone in the Eastern Mediterranean under the control of the AA-I. Although this plan did not materialize due to the “No” votes of the Greek Cypriots, it continues to exist. The reasons for the AA-I’s interest in the island of Cyprus are closely related to the region’s geopolitical position, its potential for access to energy resources, and its role in regional balances. This article is a study that examines in detail the AA-I’s strategies towards the entire island of Cyprus and the TRNC in light of the dynamics of regional and global power balances.