The US military presence in Southern Cyprus represents a strategic effort to reshape the geopolitical landscape, counter rival powers, and secure its dominance across the Eastern Mediterranean and the Middle East.
The US’s decision to establish a military base in Southern Cyprus is a calculated move aimed at asserting dominance in the Eastern Mediterranean and influencing regional geopolitics. By leveraging Cyprus’s strategic location, the US seeks to challenge adversaries like Russia, China, and Turkey, safeguard energy security, support Israeli interests, and shape the Middle East’s political and economic future. This initiative underscores Washington’s broader ambition to maintain control in an evolving global order, despite risks of escalating tensions with regional actors and destabilizing the fragile balance in the region.
The transformation of the Greek Cypriot Administration of Southern Cyprus (GCASC) into a military stronghold for the United States is a calculated and ambitious maneuver with far-reaching consequences. This development reflects a convergence of complex geopolitical strategies that go well beyond the island itself, targeting regional and global dynamics. By leveraging Cyprus’s unique geographical position, the US aims to reshape the power balance in the Eastern Mediterranean, the Middle East, and beyond, ensuring the perpetuation of its global dominance.
At the core of this strategy lies the longstanding Western alliance with Greece and Greek Cypriots, a relationship rooted in Cold War-era policies. By strengthening the Greek Cypriot administration militarily and politically, the US reinforces the broader concept of Pan-Hellenism, which seeks to expand Greek cultural and territorial influence in the region. This support undermines Turkey’s role in the Eastern Mediterranean, a region where territorial disputes and historical tensions have created a complex and volatile geopolitical environment.
The US military expansion in Cyprus aligns seamlessly with its broader Middle East agenda. Over the past decades, the Middle East has been a central focus of American foreign policy, and Cyprus serves as an ideal staging ground for monitoring and influencing the region. The island’s strategic location allows the US to oversee and intervene in the affairs of multiple countries, from the eastern Mediterranean to the Arabian Peninsula. By fortifying its presence in Cyprus, the US can act more decisively in reshaping borders, supporting regime changes, and influencing regional politics in line with its long-term objectives.
A significant aspect of this strategy is the role Cyprus plays in protecting and advancing Israeli interests. The close proximity of the island to Israel makes it an invaluable asset for intelligence-sharing, military coordination, and the protection of regional security. The US-Israel partnership, one of the most steadfast alliances in global politics, finds a new frontier in Cyprus. The island’s militarization further supports the broader project of Greater Israel, a concept tied to ensuring the security and territorial ambitions of the Israeli state, which some analysts argue is implicitly supported by US foreign policy.
Cyprus also represents a crucial node in the race for energy security. The Eastern Mediterranean’s vast reserves of natural gas and oil have become a contested prize, drawing in regional and global powers. By establishing a base on the island, the US positions itself as a key player in controlling the exploration, extraction, and distribution of these resources. This move undermines competing claims from Turkey, Lebanon, and other regional actors while ensuring that energy routes align with Western interests.
The island’s strategic importance is not limited to the Middle East or energy politics. It also serves as a countermeasure against China’s expanding influence through its Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). As China deepens its economic and political ties across the Middle East and North Africa, the US views Cyprus as a vital outpost to disrupt these efforts. By strengthening its presence in the Eastern Mediterranean, the US seeks to weaken China’s bilateral agreements with regional powers and stifle its vision of a modern Silk Road connecting Asia, Europe, and Africa.
Russia, too, finds itself in the crosshairs of US strategy in Cyprus. The island’s militarization provides the US with a direct platform to challenge Russia’s Mediterranean ambitions, particularly its naval operations in the region. Russia’s presence in Syria, anchored by its Tartus naval base, represents a significant threat to NATO’s influence. By bolstering its presence in Cyprus, the US disrupts Russian supply lines, weakens its military positioning, and undermines its broader influence in Africa and the Middle East.
The militarization of Cyprus also raises questions about the US’s controversial relationships with non-state actors and proxy groups. Critics argue that the island could serve as a hub for supporting groups like the PYD, PKK, and YPG, which the US has backed in the past under the pretext of combating terrorism. Such support has historically been a source of tension with Turkey, and Cyprus’s transformation into a US base could exacerbate these disputes.
From a broader perspective, Cyprus embodies the US’s vision for geopolitical superiority in a rapidly evolving world order. The island’s location at the crossroads of Europe, Asia, and Africa makes it an unparalleled strategic asset. By establishing a stronghold here, the US not only gains a geographical advantage but also cements its influence over vital trade routes, energy corridors, and political developments across three continents. This move is part of a larger effort to build a new global system centered around American interests, ensuring that emerging powers like China, Russia, and Turkey are kept in check.
The Arab world is another key area of focus for US operations in Cyprus. The island’s proximity to key Arab nations allows for effective surveillance and intervention in the region’s political and economic developments. Whether it is monitoring the Gulf states, countering Islamist movements, or projecting power into North Africa, the US’s presence in Cyprus serves as a critical tool for maintaining its dominance over a volatile but resource-rich region.
One of the more contentious aspects of the US presence in Cyprus is its potential role in confronting Iran. The island’s location offers a strategic vantage point for monitoring Iranian activities, coordinating covert operations, and even launching military strikes if necessary. The US has long sought to contain and ultimately overthrow the Iranian regime, and Cyprus could play a pivotal role in achieving this objective.
However, perhaps the most immediate and tangible impact of the US presence in Cyprus is on the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC). By siding with the Greek Cypriot administration, the US directly challenges the existence of the TRNC, undermining Turkish Cypriot sovereignty and paving the way for a unified Cyprus under Greek control. This move not only threatens Turkish Cypriots but also serves as a broader strategy to weaken Turkey’s geopolitical power.
At its core, the US’s military expansion in Cyprus is deeply intertwined with its broader strategy of targeting Turkey. Over the past two decades, Turkey has emerged as a significant regional power, challenging American hegemony in the Eastern Mediterranean, the Middle East, and Central Asia. By establishing a base in Cyprus, the US seeks to counter Turkey’s growing influence and limit its role in shaping the new world order.
This strategy is not a recent development but rather the culmination of decades of planning. As far back as the 1960s, the CIA and other Western agencies began cultivating influence in Greece and Cyprus. These early efforts laid the groundwork for today’s policies, ensuring that American interests would remain firmly entrenched in the region.
The militarization of Cyprus is a high-stakes gamble with profound implications for regional stability. While it enhances the US’s ability to project power and protect its interests, it also risks escalating tensions with regional powers like Turkey and Russia. Moreover, by undermining the sovereignty of Turkish Cypriots and aligning with Greek ambitions, the US risks further destabilizing an already fragile region. As the world watches this development unfold, it becomes clear that Cyprus is far more than an island—it is a battleground for the future of global geopolitics.
Inspired by Prof Gözügüzelli’s sharings
