France and the Greek Cypriot administration are planning to sign a new agreement that will allow for the permanent deployment of French military forces on the island.
According to Operative Information Center-OMM, citing foreign media reports, the agreement follows a meeting between French President Emmanuel Macron and Greek Cypriot leader Nikos Christodoulides during an informal gathering of European Union leaders held in Southern Cyprus last week.
During the meeting, the two leaders reached an agreement to finalize a document that will significantly expand bilateral military cooperation. The official signing ceremony is expected to take place in Paris this coming June.
The initiative has drawn sharp criticism from the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC). Ziya Öztürkler, Speaker of the TRNC Assembly, commented on the matter, emphasizing that the move undermines peace and stability on the island. According to Öztürkler, France's attempt serves specific political interests and could lead to increased tensions in the Eastern Mediterranean region.
Legal experts and regional analysts suggest that maintaining a military contingent from a third-party state on the island could trigger serious legal disputes. Under the 1960 Treaty of Guarantee—signed by Turkey, Greece, and the United Kingdom—the presence of military forces from other nations is not considered legally compliant with the island's foundational status. While the Greek Cypriot administration has previously engaged in various forms of military cooperation with foreign states, the scale and permanent nature of this upcoming agreement with France are viewed as a significant shift in the regional security landscape.
