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Cyprus-Turkey relations

Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan talks to journalists during a news conference following a meeting about Gaza with his counterparts from Qatar, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, Indonesia and United Arab Emirates, in Istanbul, Turkey, November 3, 2025. (Khalil Hamra/AP)
December 24, 2025, 7:54 pm
Turkey hosts Hamas officials as pro-government media casts Israel as ‘number one threat’
As Netanyahu hints Israel will prevent Ankara from acquiring F-35s, Turkish FM Hakan Fidan discusses Gaza ceasefire and humanitarian aid amid rising tensions
By Reuters, Stav Levaton and Lazar Berman
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (center), Cypriot President Nikos Christodoulides (left) and Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis (right) hold a joint press conference after a trilateral meeting in Jerusalem on December 22, 2025. (ABIR SULTAN / POOL / AFP)
December 23, 2025, 5:41 am
Netanyahu uses summit of Israel, Greece, Cyprus leaders to send warning to Turkey
Participants at trilateral Jerusalem summit agree to boost cooperation in eastern Mediterranean; PM says the three countries can defend against those trying to ‘recreate empire’
By Lazar Berman and Nava Freiberg
File: An Iron Dome anti-missile system fires an interceptor missile as rockets are fired from the Gaza Strip at Israel, August 6, 2022. (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)
August 21, 2022, 12:00 pm
Cyprus set to buy Iron Dome from Israel — report
Greek newspaper says Israeli-made air defense batteries to be used by Cypriot military to protect against Turkish threat
By Emanuel Fabian
The drilling vessel Fatih deployed by Turkey to search for gas and oil in waters considered part of the EU state's exclusive economic zone on June 24, 2019 (AFP)
July 27, 2022, 11:19 am
Turkey to resume drilling for gas near Cyprus, potentially inflaming tensions
Exploration in East Mediterranean region slated to begin August 9; Ankara has a maritime border dispute with Greece and Cyprus
By AFP
Turkey's drilling ship, Fatih, sails through the Bosphorus toward the Black Sea in Istanbul, May 29, 2020. (AP Photo/Emrah Gurel)
August 22, 2020, 2:17 am
Erdogan claims Turkey’s ‘greatest’ gas discovery; analysts doubt its magnitude
Turkish president announces finding fuel in Black Sea, which will reduce dependence on imports, but experts say it’s not a ‘game-changer’
By Suzan Fraser
Illustrative: In this July 9, 2019 file photo, a Turkish Navy warship patrols near Turkey's drilling ship 'Fatih' that was making its way towards the eastern Mediterranean near Cyprus to begin drilling operations. (Turkish Defence Ministry via AP, Pool)
August 17, 2020, 8:46 am
EU urges Turkey to halt gas hunt in disputed east Mediterranean areas
Tensions on the rise with Greece after Ankara sends warships and research vessels into areas claimed by Athens, rejects ‘sanctions and threats’
By AFP
Armed police patrol outside the Byzantine-era Hagia Sophia, one of Istanbul's main tourist attractions in the historic Sultanahmet district of Istanbul, Thursday, June 25, 2020. (AP Photo/Emrah Gurel)
July 10, 2020, 5:25 pm
Turkey’s president formally makes Hagia Sophia a mosque
Move to allow Muslim prayer at iconic 6th century former cathedral comes despite protests from US, Orthodox Christian leaders and could inflame tensions with Greece, Cyprus
By Suzan Fraser
In this photo from October 1, 2019, Cypriots wave the flags of Cyprus and Greece during a military parade marking the 59th anniversary of Cyprus' independence from British colonial rule, in the capital Nicosia. (Iakovos Hatzistavrou/AFP)
July 9, 2020, 1:03 pm
US to start Cyprus military training, defying Turkey
Cooperation will be part of program for foreign officers to increase friendly nations’ interoperability with US military, after Washington ended arms embargo on island last year
By AFP
US Assistant Secretary of State Francis Fannon, right, and Cyprus' Energy minister Yiorgos Lakkotrypis talk during a meeting of Israeli, Cypriot and Greek experts working on boosting safety and security in offshore oil and gas drilling in Nicosia, Cyprus, February 5, 2020. (Petros Karadjias/AP)
February 5, 2020, 3:56 pm
US backs Cyprus amid tensions with Turkey over gas drilling
Official says Nicosia has right to develop energy resources; Israeli, Greek and Cypriot experts meeting to discuss offshore security
By MENELAOS HADJICOSTIS
A helicopter flies over Turkey's drilling ship, 'Fatih' dispatched towards the eastern Mediterranean, near Cyprus, on July 9, 2019. (Turkish Defence Ministry via AP, Pool)
January 22, 2020, 2:48 pm
Cyprus: Turkey may have stolen data for latest gas drilling
Island country says it doesn’t have specific proof, but believes pilfered plans and studies are what enabled Turkish exploration ship to sail straight to target spot
By MENELAOS HADJICOSTIS
A Turkish-made Bayraktar TB2 drone is seen shortly after its landing at an airport in Gecitkala, known as Lefkoniko in Greek, in Cyprus on December 16, 2019. (DHA via AP)
January 19, 2020, 9:39 pm
Cyprus blasts ‘pirate state’ Turkey’s new gas drilling bid
Nicosia says despite emerging energy-based partnerships among countries in eastern Mediterranean, Istanbul has opted to ‘go down path of international illegality’
By MENELAOS HADJICOSTIS
This picture taken on January 31, 2019, shows a view of the SSCV Thialf crane vessel after laying the newly arrived foundation platform for the Leviathan natural gas field in the Mediterranean Sea, about 130 kilometers (81 miles) west of Haifa. (Marc Israel Sellem/Pool/AFP)
December 23, 2019, 1:07 pm
Turkish diplomat’s car torched in Greece amid tensions over energy exploration
Ankara says its recent deal with Libya grants it economic rights to a large swath of the eastern Mediterranean, sparking a multinational diplomatic row
By Agencies
File: Greek Minister of Environment and Energy Kostas Hatzidakis, second left, shakes hands with Israel's Energy Minister Yuval Steinitz, right, as US Assistant Secretary of State for Energy Francis Fannon, second right, and Cyprus's Energy Minister Georgios Lakkotrypis , left, look on during a summit in Athens, August 7, 2019. (AP/Petros Giannakouris)
December 22, 2019, 10:07 pm
Greece says huge gas pipeline deal with Israel, Cyprus to be signed January 2
Burgeoning alliance comes as Turkey attempts to lay claim to eastern Mediterranean energy reserves
By AFP
The Leviathan natural gas platform off the shore of Israel. (Albatross)
December 21, 2019, 6:42 am
Cyprus rallies Israel, other neighbors to counter Turkey-Libya maritime deal
Netanyahu backs joint diplomatic effort after Erdogan claims economic rights over large swath of eastern Mediterranean, threatening Israeli gas pipeline
By AP
File: Turkish navy ships in 2015 (AP Photo/Lefteris Pitarakis)
December 14, 2019, 11:22 pm
Turkish ships said to force Israeli research vessel out of Cypriot waters
According to TV report, Turkish navy intercepts Israeli boat, orders it to leave; Turkey’s recent maritime deal with Libya has fueled regional tensions over drilling rights
By ToI Staff
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