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Turkish media is paying attention to Cyprus, on the occasion of the recent joint military exercise between US Marines and Cypriot commandos, cultivating a climate of tension. At the center of Turkish publications is not only the content of the exercise, but also the presence of the US ambassador in Nicosia.
The exercise included landing scenarios on enemy shores, which sparked reactions in the Turkish press, although the report on it came two weeks late.
From February 17 to 28, 2025, within the framework of the Cyprus-US bilateral defense program, the exercise “PROTEAS - 04” was held. Participants were trained in the planning and execution of Special Operations, in the presence of the Chief of the National Guard, Lieutenant General George Tsitsikostas, and the US Ambassador to Cyprus, Julie S. Davis.
The exercise focused on tactics such as laying underwater explosives, neutralizing targets, and landing on enemy shores. According to a statement from the General Staff of the National Guard (GEEF), this cooperation strengthens mutual understanding, knowledge exchange, and interoperability between the two sides.
“This activity is part of the General Staff’s strategy for the continuous improvement of military cooperation with the US, contributing to the operational readiness of the forces of both countries,” the statement said. The Turkish press wrote that “wherever there is an enemy of Turkey, the US supports it... Training for a secret landing on the Turkish coast.”
In its report, the media talks about cooperation between American soldiers and "Greek Cypriots", who intended to train in landing operations on enemy shores.
The same newspaper also refers to US-Cyprus military relations, recalling that in August 2024 a joint air defense exercise was held, while in January 2025 a military cooperation agreement was signed between the two countries.
Particular importance is attached to the fact that the US embassy in Nicosia published information about the exercise on social media, with Milli claiming that this was done "to provoke Turkey."
The Turkish newspaper columnist raises an issue of NATO policy, wondering why the US, as a NATO member, is training the "Greek Cypriot administration of Southern Cyprus", which is not a member of the Alliance, in military operations targeting Turkey, which belongs to NATO.
The Cyprus-US defense cooperation is part of the overall framework of strategic cooperation pursued by the Republic of Cyprus, while the reactions from the Turkish side reflect Ankara's long-standing irritation with such initiatives. The strong rhetoric of the Turkish media may be part of a broader effort to escalate tensions in the region.
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