Rhetoric from pro-government circles in Turkey has intensified, with prominent media figures and state-linked think tanks framing the Republic of Cyprus as part of a hostile Eastern Mediterranean bloc and warning of a heightened risk of conflict.
The narrative focuses on a perceived “bloc” formed by Greece, Israel, and Cyprus, leading to calls for military readiness reminiscent of 1974.
Prominent Turkish editor warns of “new operation Attila”
Ozay Sendir, the Editor-in-Chief of the pro-government newspaper Milliyet, has revealed that the Turkish Armed Forces (TSK) are in a state of constant surveillance regarding the defense cooperation between Athens, Tel Aviv, and Nicosia.
Sendir noted that while hardware acquisitions by the Republic of Cyprus are monitored, the primary risk factor is the “arrogance” stemming from its alliance with Israel. He explicitly stated that the likelihood of conflict is currently highest on the island of Cyprus.
He stressed that developments in 2026 necessitate that the TSK remain ready for a potential “New Operation Attila” (the Turkish codename for the 1974 invasion) and warned that if “political will in Ankara” gives the order following a provocation, military action could be carried out “immediately.”
The media’s “anti-Turkey bloc” narrative focusing on Cyprus, Israel, and Greece
Turkish analysts are framing the trilateral cooperation as an attempt to isolate Ankara. Yucel Acer, head of the National Center for the Sea and Maritime Law (DEHUKAM) and a member of the SETA think tank, argued in Sabah that Greece is strategically exploiting Turkey’s strained international relations.
Acer posits that Greece is attempting to leverage its position in European defense to gain bilateral advantages in the Aegean. The analysis suggests that the deterioration of Turkey-Israel relations has provided Greece with a window to form a strategic “bloc” designed specifically to counter Turkish influence in the Eastern Mediterranean.
Sendir also addressed international criticism of President Erdogan’s foreign policy, dismissing claims that Turkey seeks to revive the Ottoman Empire as propaganda. He accused the “Athens-Tel Aviv-Nicosia” axis of spreading this narrative to justify their own military buildup, asserting that Turkey has no such expansionist ambitions.
Related: Eastern Mediterranean Alliance: Greece, Cyprus, and Israel Forge Strategic Defense Pact
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