Turkish Cypriot leader says foreign policy steps coordinated with Türkiye, pledges deeper alignment

Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) President Tufan Erhurman said Saturday that all steps concerning the Cyprus issue and the territory’s foreign policy are taken in consultation with Türkiye, and that this coordination will deepen during his tenure.

Speaking to Anadolu on the sidelines of the Antalya Diplomacy Forum (ADF) 2026 in Türkiye’s southern resort city of Antalya, Erhurman emphasized that close coordination with Ankara has been a long-standing practice. “All steps regarding the Cyprus issue and the TRNC’s foreign policy have been taken in consultation with Türkiye.

This has been the case under all previous leaders, and I have said it will continue to increase during my term,” he said. Erhurman said coordination with Turkish authorities is maintained on a daily basis and noted a recent “very productive” meeting with President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

The talks, he said, reviewed recent developments in the Cyprus issue as well as broader regional dynamics and their potential impact on the dispute, with both sides reaffirming their “full coordination.” On efforts to resolve the Cyprus issue, Erhurman reiterated that the Turkish Cypriot side remains committed to dialogue but does not intend to be confined solely to negotiation processes.

“History has taught us that there is also a world beyond the negotiation table. Turkish Cypriots have no intention of being confined to it. We will continue to make every effort in good faith to reach a solution,” he said. World leaders and senior government officials are meeting in Türkiye through Sunday for the Antalya Diplomacy Forum, a major international gathering focused this year on managing global uncertainty.

The forum, held under the auspices of President Erdogan and hosted by the Turkish Foreign Ministry, is centered on the theme “Mapping Tomorrow, Managing Uncertainties.”