Cyprus Foreign Minister Constantinos Kombos has accused Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan of “hypocritical and provocative” rhetoric regarding Gaza, while simultaneously revealing that Ankara is actively obstructing the multi-billion euro Great Sea Interconnector project. This ambitious subsea electricity cable, designed to link Israel, Cyprus, and Greece, and ultimately connect Cyprus to Europe’s power grid, faces significant roadblocks due to Turkey’s “illegal claims” over maritime delimitation in the exclusive economic zone, according to Kombos. The €1.9 billion project, which has secured substantial EU funding for its Cyprus-Crete section, aims to end Cyprus’s isolation from the European electricity system and bolster Israel’s direct connection to the European market. Kombos highlighted the stark contrast between Erdoğan’s U.N. pronouncements on international law and Turkey’s actions concerning the divided island of Cyprus, which he described as an “ongoing violation, an act of aggression, of invasion, of occupation.” The geopolitical tensions surrounding the project are exacerbated by Turkey’s stance on the division of Cyprus and its support for a two-state solution, which conflicts with the U.N.’s long-standing framework for reunification. As Cyprus strengthens its strategic ties with the United States, evidenced by renewed defense cooperation agreements, the regional energy infrastructure project hangs in the balance, caught in a bitter feud that pits diplomatic rhetoric against vital energy connectivity.
Adapted from: Latest World News on Fox News
