Turkey upgrades military base in Occupied Territories
Turkey upgrades military base in Occupied Territories
Turkey's goal is to become a dominant naval power in the region. And it wants to achieve this by turning occupied Cyprus into a major military base. Both the operational Lefkonikos military airport and two other bases that have been planned, in Bogazici and Karpasia, all belong to the Turkish Navy.
It is evident from the moves being made that Ankara seeks to establish conditions for strategic control of the region, making full use of the Occupied Territories. As a first step in increasing its influence, it is attempting to create a permanent military base on the island. It believes that this presence will ensure control of the sea routes and expand vital space for its interests.
A few days ago, the separatist entity, through a formal procedure, “ceded” the illegal airport of the occupied Lefkonikos to the occupation army, which, incidentally, is already using it. The occupation leader, Ersin Tatar, on the occasion of the decision to cede the airport to the occupation army, claimed that this was done for security reasons, in light of the developments in the Eastern Mediterranean!
The airport's upgrade, which has been taking place gradually since September 2018, aims – according to reports in the occupied territories – to become Turkey's first military base in the Eastern Mediterranean. The airport was built in 1986 to NATO standards and already operates as a center for unmanned aerial vehicles (IHA) and unmanned armed aircraft (SİHA).
The airport was built on an area of 2.890 acres of land, has a runway of 2.850 meters, which is suitable for landing and taking off of any type of aircraft. It has been reported in the past that the goal is to permanently station fighter aircraft, but this has not yet been done. It is noted that the Lefkonikos base facilitates the Turkish Air Force for operations in the region, without the need for refueling.
Turkish retired Lieutenant General Beyazit Karataş predicted that the airport would become more modern with its maintenance and repair works, adding that Turkey had previously aimed to establish a naval base and provide maintenance, repair and refueling support to its ships operating in the region. Regarding the activity of unmanned aerial vehicles, this is continuous and very frequent. The Republic of Cyprus denounces the Turkish illegal activity with its letters-demarches to the United Nations, so that it is recorded.
The Bogazi naval base
The naval base in Boğaziçi has been designed, but its construction does not yet appear to have begun. However, all the preliminary work has been done, such as fencing the area and measuring the seabed. It is noted that the Turkish Minister of Defense, last December, had stated that the occupying force does not need a naval base and that a dock will be built (in an existing old port) to facilitate the approach of ships. He specifically mentioned Turkey's largest warship, the TCG Anadolu. However, the decision to build it has been made, perhaps for some reason the start of work is not considered an immediate priority now.
It is recalled in this regard that the command of the occupation army, in December 2019, when the issue was raised by the pseudo-MP of the RTK, Akansoy, had responded, through the occupation regime, that in this specific area "a new headquarters building and new bases are being planned. The necessary permits and approvals have been obtained. An ammunition depot has not been planned in the existing project . "
The base in Boğaziçi is expected to further increase the rapid deployment capability of forces and accelerate maintenance, repair and logistics support, while allowing for the long-term deployment of naval and air assets, in order to serve Turkey's objectives in the wider region.
On January 23, 2024, the signing ceremony of the “ship traffic service system installation plan”, which as is known will be located in the occupied Karpasia, took place in Ankara. For this purpose, the EBKAF has rented 108 acres of land to the occupation army in the Templos area, in the Cape of Apostle Andrew. The general manager of the defense industry company HAVELSAN, Mehmet Akif Nadjar, stated during the signing ceremony that a ship traffic service center and three traffic monitoring stations will be built in the occupied areas, while two stations with an automatic identification system and a radar station will also be integrated. He further stated that the system will be supported and monitored through the Mersin Ship Traffic Service Center, which is already operating.
The radar installation aims to monitor movement at sea and in the air. The radar will reinforce the two other bases of Lefkonikos, which is in operation, and the Bogazici, which has been designed and will be built, and will have - as reported by the Turkish side - a connection with the activity of vessels involved in energy.
It is obvious that the occupying power is trying, on the basis of a plan, to make the most of the strategic importance of Cyprus and use it as a permanent military base. It is obvious that the continuous upgrading of military infrastructure and the creation of new ones is an ongoing process. And the goal is not only the Eastern Mediterranean, but also Africa and beyond. It is a geopolitical gamble for the occupying power.
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