TRNC says planned France–Greek Cypriot Status of Forces Agreement 'has no validity'

The Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) on Wednesday condemned a planned Status of Forces Agreement between the Greek Cypriot Administration and France, saying the deal "has no validity" for the Turkish Cypriot side and warning it could destabilise the region.

In a statement posted on X, the TRNC Foreign Ministry said the agreement, expected to be signed in June, reportedly includes the deployment of French military elements on the island of Cyprus. It added that the pact would expand defence industry cooperation between France and the Greek Cypriot side, covering technology sharing, military training activities, and logistical support for military facilities.

“These types of military arrangements, under the guise of humanitarian purposes, aim to increase the military capacity of the Greek Cypriot Administration and disregard the inherent sovereign equal rights of the Turkish Cypriot people,” the ministry said. Such moves, it warned, lay the groundwork for tensions both between the two sides on the island and at the regional level.

The ministry also stressed that the Greek Cypriot Administration does not have the authority to represent the Turkish Cypriot people or the island as a whole. It reiterated that the planned agreement holds no validity for the TRNC and the Turkish Cypriot people.

The statement said policies that ignore Turkish Cypriot rights highlight the importance of Türkiye’s “effective and active guarantee,” and reaffirmed the TRNC’s determination to deepen defence cooperation with Ankara to ensure security.