in-cyprus 22 February 2026 - by Costas Venizelos
Three radar stations will begin operating in the occupied areas this July, strengthening Turkey’s control over the surrounding sea.
The system uses modern technology to upgrade Ankara’s monitoring mechanisms. The move marks another step in Turkey’s push to build new infrastructure in the occupied territory while upgrading what already exists. The stated long-term aim is to secure tighter control of the area from Cyprus.
The decision to construct and operate three stations will give Turkey enhanced technological capacity to monitor the region in full. The stations stand at Livera, Cape Apostolos Andreas and Agios Theodoros.
Authorities in the occupied areas have confirmed that final checks are underway before the stations become operational. To ensure the project finishes on time and to address potential risks during operation, a delegation from Turkey visited the occupied areas days ago. The delegation came from Turkey’s Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure and was led by Director General of Maritime Affairs Ünal Baylan. Officials discussed the final-stage details with the occupation regime before the three stations went live.
Turkish officials say the project serves strategic needs in the Eastern Mediterranean. The so-called minister, Erhan Arıklı, described the region as an energy transit route with heavy LNG and oil tanker traffic and called it geopolitically critical. He said the system is important not only for managing civilian traffic but also for raising awareness of maritime activity. He added that the plan will increase the capacity to monitor sea traffic between the “TRNC” and Turkey, improve safety when approaching “TRNC” ports and reduce the transport of dangerous and illegal goods. Turkish sources also state that the radars will allow “early detection of asymmetric maritime threats and monitoring of critical infrastructure”, such as the subsea electricity transmission cable. An official of the occupying power said the project creates a situational awareness network that goes beyond passive radar surveillance.
The radar stations link directly to other infrastructure projects run by the occupying power. They connect with the illegal military airport at Lefkoniko, which operates largely as a base for unmanned aerial vehicles, and with the planned naval base at Bogazi. Turkey began upgrading the airport in September 2018, aiming to turn it into its first military base in the Eastern Mediterranean. Its operations focus mainly on the area south of the island. Work on the naval base at Bogazi has not advanced significantly, though steps indicate plans to build it, as the Turkish navy requires such a facility. The Tasucu base on Turkey’s coast lies 40 nautical miles away. The infrastructure network also includes the Ground Data Terminal (GDT) system in the occupied Pentadaktylos mountain range, which supports the operational deployment of Bayraktar TB2 unmanned aerial vehicles.
These projects deepen and entrench Turkey’s presence in the occupied areas and seek to impose new faits accomplis. The timing is also symbolic. The plan is to launch the stations in July, the month marking the anniversary of the invasion, when celebrations take place in the occupied areas and announcements of new projects often follow.
Turkey has long used Cyprus as a forward outpost and as a key instrument in advancing its “Blue Homeland” doctrine. This strategy strengthens Turkey’s military presence on the island and drives further militarisation.
Each new project reinforces Ankara’s narrative that it is investing strategically in infrastructure in Cyprus in order to remain. These plans and their implementation reduce the prospects of reaching an agreement on the Cyprus issue, unless any future settlement incorporates the faits accomplis and strategic advantages Turkey has gained through its illegal presence.
Debate over a separate agreement has also triggered unrest in the occupied areas. The “Turkey–TRNC cooperation protocol” provides for the installation of fibre-optic network infrastructure to deliver internet access to 150,000 households and businesses. The Turkish company Türk Telekom will implement and manage the project for 25 years. Marathon sessions in the so-called parliament, lasting up to 19 hours, have yet to conclude. The issue could even topple the so-called government, as some “MPs” from the ruling side align with the “opposition”.
President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has signed the protocol. It covers a 213-kilometre subsea fibre-optic cable laid between Famagusta and Hatay. Critics argue that the deal places personal data under the control of the Turkish company and, by extension, Turkey, while serving broader economic and other interests. They describe it as another step towards full dependency on Ankara and as further pressure on Turkish Cypriots. The project requires approval from the so-called parliament. Opponents point out that the protocol was concluded without a tender process.
Tufan Erhürman has intervened in the debate, adopting a low tone but raising procedural concerns. He questioned whether the agreement could be unconstitutional and argued that the “attorney general’s office” should issue a legal opinion. He said responsibility ultimately rests with the so-called parliament.
Erdoğan’s signature, however, makes a different outcome unlikely. Despite internal dissent, the governing parties are expected to approve the protocol.
Meanwhile, President Nikos Christodoulides will meet the Turkish Cypriot leader on Tuesday, following statements by the UN Secretary-General’s Personal Envoy María Ángela Holguín and remarks by Tufan Erhürman in Istanbul. The meeting is largely procedural and aims to keep the Cyprus issue alive for now.
Holguín’s article, published last Sunday, has given the Turkish side room to pause the initiative until the summer. It remains unclear whether any moves will follow to push the process forward, as there are no signs of a shift in Ankara’s position.
Holguín does not intend to return to the island before the summer. She has indicated that she will wait until the Republic of Cyprus completes its EU Council Presidency in June and until May’s parliamentary elections take place, as she does not expect developments before then.
Erhürman has also moved closer to Ankara’s line. Speaking in Istanbul, he said he stands on the same page as Turkey on the Cyprus issue. President Christodoulides is expected to ask him directly at Tuesday’s meeting whether he supports a two-state solution, as Turkey does. Erhürman has told interlocutors that he needs time, though his public statements increasingly align with Ankara.
President Christodoulides continues to call for negotiations to break the prolonged deadlock and to deter extreme moves by Ankara. Although negotiations offer no guarantees, periods of talks tend to make all sides more cautious.
For now, contacts at various levels and actions on non-political issues will sustain the effort until the summer. Whether substantive talks can begin after that remains uncertain, especially as the UN Secretary-General’s term is due to end.
