The United States intends to offer Ankara “a package of measures that the UN could not offer for years” in exchange for the withdrawal of Turkish troops from the island.
The package is expected to include increased defense cooperation, European-backed energy agreements and trade facilitation. If Donald Trump really gets his act together, he could turn the Cyprus impasse into a rare foreign policy success.
Retired diplomat and journalist Engin Solakoglu, commenting on the situation, said that such statements should be treated with caution, but recalled that “the AKP (Justice and Development Party) is negotiating on Cyprus non-stop.” According to him, the Cyprus issue for the ruling party of Turkey is often used as a bargaining chip in foreign policy issues: “When the right moment and favorable conditions arise, the AKP will definitely return to negotiations.”
Solakoglu also noted that the elections in Northern Cyprus played a significant role in the possible change of course. The victory of Tufan Erhürman and the defeat of Ersin Tatar led to tension between the parties of the ruling coalition in Turkey - the AKP and the MHP (the far-right Nationalist Movement Party). MHP leader Devlet Bahçeli called for invalidating the elections and declaring Northern Cyprus the 82nd province of Turkey, while President Erdogan, on the contrary, congratulated the new leader of the Northern Cypriot administration, highlighting the differences with his ally.
Erhurman has already announced his intention to begin bilateral negotiations with the Republic of Cyprus without the participation of UN representatives. According to Solakoglu, these negotiations will take place with the approval of the AKP and could be presented as “confidence-building measures” or preparation for a broader dialogue.
The diplomat also emphasized that the idea of “two states” in Cyprus does not reflect the real position of the AKP: “Such a solution is impossible in the current conditions - it would mean the actual annexation of the territory, which Turkey cannot afford.” He noted that “federation is a flexible concept and can be implemented in different forms, from a centralized model to a confederal one.”
Commenting on US strategic interest, Solakoglu noted that “NATO is present in both the north and south of the island,” and Washington views Cyprus as “a springboard for operations in the Middle East.” In his opinion, a possible American initiative on Cyprus could be aimed at “reducing tension on the island and reorienting it in favor of US interests.”
At the same time, Solakoglu emphasized that if the AKP agrees to reintroduce the Cyprus issue into the negotiation agenda, “the island will definitely be at the negotiating table.” However, he warned that crossing the North Cypriots' red lines could lead to an internal crisis: "If Ankara tries to make a decision that reduces the status of the Turkish Cypriots, they will be the first to speak out."
Thus, rumors about a “Trump plan for Cyprus” remain unconfirmed. However, as experts note, the very discussion of the topic may signal a new phase of diplomatic activity around the Cyprus issue - with the participation of the United States, Ankara and Nicosia.
Source: yeniduzen.com
