in-cyprus 18 January 2026 - by Costas Venizelos
Occupying forces are systematically seizing control of the UN buffer zone, employing a strategy of tension, skirmishes, and territorial advances. This permanent tactic has intensified recently as Turkey attempts to impose new “facts on the ground” and expand its occupation. These targeted incursions aim to seize the zone entirely, creating a climate of fear and insecurity for residents living along the Attila Line.
Evidence shows the Turkish side is doubling down on a “salami-slicing” strategy—small but deliberate steps designed to consolidate control. These are not isolated military incidents; they signal a broader escalation where the Turkish presence is becoming increasingly aggressive. Recent clashes suggest the occupying army is ready to deploy even more drastic measures to achieve its goals.
UN Neutrality Sparks Outrage
The United Nations has voiced deep concern, yet UN officials continue to adopt a policy of “equal distances” between the aggressor and the victim. UNFICYP briefing notes to the Security Council attempt to balance the blame, attributing the tension to “both sides” to maintain a false sense of equilibrium.
The Republic of Cyprus Foreign Ministry has slammed this stance, expressing bitter disappointment at the UN’s persistent failure to reflect the reality of Turkish occupation. This “neutral” reporting provides a fragmented and inaccurate picture that ignores the methodology of the occupying forces and undermines trust.
Advancing the Occupation
Turkish troops are aggressively pushing forward, placing barrels to mark a “new border” deep within the buffer zone. Violations occur daily across Nicosia—at Ayios Dometios, Wayne’s Keep cemetery, Ledra Palace, Deneia, and Avlona—as well as in Strovilia and Pyla, where the Turkish side ignores prior agreements.
Agriculture has become a primary weapon in this expansion. The occupying army either evicts Greek Cypriot farmers or brings in Turkish Cypriots to cultivate Greek-owned land. The goal remains the same: entrench the Turkish military presence and force Greek Cypriots to abandon their properties.
UNFICYP Hamstrung by Cuts
Global budget cuts have slashed UNFICYP’s strength by 15%, freezing the rotation of sixty peacekeepers. These manpower shortages have crippled patrols and reduced the UN’s ability to intervene, a weakness the Turkish military is now exploiting.
While expressing concern, UNFICYP often plays down the severity of Turkish violations. Peacekeepers frequently attempt to shift the blame onto farmers or the media, even looking for Greek Cypriot “violations” to maintain their narrative of “mutual blame.” This ignores the fundamental fact that the Turkish army is an aggressor in an offensive formation, whereas the National Guard remains in a defensive posture. UN data itself reveals that Turkish military violations outnumber those of the National Guard four to one.
Diplomatic Deadlock
On the political front, the Turkish side is actively sabotaging progress. Ankara-backed leader Ersin Tatar continues to obstruct the opening of new crossing points, such as the Athienou-Pyroi route, by demanding new roads that bypass the buffer zone entirely. This obstructionism aims to stall a proposed informal five-party meeting and derail the efforts of UN Personal Envoy Maria Angela Holguin Cuéllar.
Two unofficial meetings are scheduled abroad—one in Oslo for civil society and another in London for Technical Committee heads—but prospects for a high-level joint meeting remain bleak. The Turkish side insists on impossible preconditions, using the lack of progress at the checkpoints as an excuse to claim that a solution is no longer viable.
